BICOM

Israel’s Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett said yesterday that his party would leave the coalition if the government agrees to a framework plan for final status talks which his party disagrees with.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, whose intense diplomatic activity led to a resumption of peace talks in July, discussed the idea of a framework for final status talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during a regional visit in December. He is expected to present a more formal plan in the coming weeks, which Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) will apparently be encouraged to accept with room for reservations. However, the exact content of the framework plan regarding core issues such as borders, refugees and Jerusalem remains uncertain and tempers flared last week between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bennett over the fate of West Bank settlers.

At a conference in Jerusalem yesterday, Bennett was questioned by Channel Two reporter Sivan Rahav-Meir over whether his party would remain in the coalition if a framework plan is adopted. Bennett said, “If this thing is not consistent with our principles, we won’t be. And if it is consistent with our principles, we’ll be [in the coalition] and we’ll strengthen the prime minister,” saying it would depend on a number of factors. Bennett made similar comments at a ceremony yesterday, saying, “I told the prime minister: Bring me a document and then we will evaluate it. If it doesn’t fit our values, then we don’t be in the government. If it does fit, we will stay.” He said Jewish Home would not pull out of the coalition just “to prove something”, but would not needlessly “cling” to its position either.

Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog has repeatedly stated that if the coalition lacks support for a peace agreement, Labour is prepared to act as a ‘safety net’ and pledge the support of its 15 Knesset members.