BICOM

Coalition negotiations continued yesterday, but they appeared to result in little progress towards forming a new Israeli government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a much-anticipated meeting with Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett in Tel Aviv yesterday. The two had not met in five years and there is thought to be personal animosity between the two leaders. Although both Netanyahu and Bennett remained tight-lipped over the content of their meeting, a Likud statement described it as “business-like,” a contrast to statements following Netanyahu’s meetings with other leaders, where a “good atmosphere” has been noted. Israel Hayom suggests that Netanyahu offered Bennett the pick of ministerial portfolios should he agree to become the first member of his coalition. However, the Jerusalem Post reports that Jewish Home will continue to coordinate coalition strategy with Yesh Atid.

A Likud-Beitenu delegation met yesterday with representatives of Yesh Atid. During the meeting, Prof. Eugene Kandel, who heads the National Economic Council, presented a new Likud initiative to draft ultra-Orthodox religious seminary students. Introducing a universal draft is considered Yesh Atid’s flagship issue. Kandel’s plan calls for the Israeli army to set gradually increasing targets for the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits over a five year period, with religious seminaries facing fines if targets are not met. However, Yesh Atid favours placing a limit on the number of ultra-Orthodox exemptions over setting recruitment goals.

Making his debut speech at the Knesset yesterday, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid called for a universal draft, saying “we cannot be afraid of the fact that the discussion of equality in the [military] burden once again brought voices threatening a civil war,” from ultra-Orthodox leaders. Talking after his speech, Lapid denied that he had discussed ministerial portfolios with Netanyahu.