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Widespread media reports in Israel suggest that although coalition talks are progressing between the Likud-Beitenu faction and the Yesh Atid and Jewish Home parties, there is disagreement over the allocation of ministerial portfolios.

Haaretz and Makor Rishon both report that Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid has his sights firmly set on becoming foreign minister and rejected an offer from Likud-Beitenu to become the next finance minister. The same reports suggest that Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett wants the finance portfolio himself. However, according to Israel Hayom and other outlets, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to holding the position of foreign minister for Yisrael Beitenu head Avigdor Lieberman, should he be exonerated of the corruption charges he is currently fighting in court.

The Jerusalem Post reports that a further sticking point in coalition talks is the Yesh Atid demand that the incoming government include a maximum of eighteen ministers. With Yesh Atid themselves reportedly having asked for the foreign, education, interior and communications portfolios and Jewish Home apparently keen to assume control of the finance, housing, transportation and religious services ministries, such a limit would likely cause a clamour from within the Likud-Beitenu faction itself, with many of its MKs harbouring ministerial ambitions. Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar who topped the Likud primaries yesterday said he does not know if he will continue in his role, although he would like to do so.

Meanwhile, Channel Ten reported yesterday that Likud-Beitenu has agreed to an outline for the military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox religious seminary students, proposed by Yesh Atid and Jewish Home. However, Maariv says that Lapid is also demanding a change in the religious status quo, including the introduction of civil marriage and public transportation on the Jewish Sabbath.