Benjamin Netanyahu Struggles to Form Israeli Government as Deadline Nears
Source: New York Times
By JODI RUDORENMAY 6, 2015
JERUSALEM Facing a midnight deadline to form a government or step aside, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was under intense pressure on Wednesday from the conservative Jewish Home party over powerful ministerial posts and contentious policy positions.
Mr. Netanyahu, who exulted in what looked like a strong mandate for a fourth term after the March 17 elections, instead was scrambling to form a coalition with the slimmest possible majority in Parliament. Many analysts said such a coalition would be able to do little and would be unlikely to last long.
Israeli news organizations reported on Wednesday that Mr. Netanyahu had yielded to Jewish Homes demand for the Justice Ministry, which the party could use to weaken the Supreme Court, emphasize Israels Jewishness and restrict leftist advocacy groups.
If Mr. Netanyahu cannot enlist at least 61 of Parliaments 120 members into his coalition, President Reuven Rivlin must turn to another lawmaker to try to form a government over the next month. If that attempt fails as well, a third Parliament member would be given a chance; after three failures, new elections would be called.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/world/middleeast/likud-jewish-home-party-negotiate-on-forming-israel-coalition.html?_r=0
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)It will be very interesting to see how people who claim that there's nothing inconsistent between progressivism and blind support of Israel will react to having a genocidalist racist as Israel's chief law enforcement officer.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)A 61 seat majority is too weak for anyone to govern. Couldn't happen to a nicer asshole.
lark
(23,003 posts)So glad to see the little murderer is having a hard time forming a goverment and is being held hostage by the even crazier RWers. New government coming there soon. Hopefully one not so batshit partisan and racist.
BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)starroute
(12,977 posts)Are we doing a countdown?
starroute
(12,977 posts)Fun times.
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/05/netanyahu-palestinians-government
Netanyahu needed a majority of seats in the 120-member Knesset in order to form a government. Bennett refused to have HaBayit HaYehudiwhich had the extra eight seats needed, beyond the 53 Bibi had already established, for a majorityjoin unless Shaked was given the justice ministry position. Netanyahu conceded, on the conditions that she does not appoint rabbinical judges and does not head the committee overseeing the nomination of new judges. . . .
Netanyahus fourth government is even further to the right of his previous ones. Many Israelis are concerned, and have characterized the new government as Bibis all-time worst coalition.
In response to Netanyahus appointment of Shaked, head of the Peace Now organization Yariv Oppenheimer commented, Shaked as Justice Minister is like placing an idol in the Temple. No less. MK Nachman Shai, of the Zionist Union, remarked the demand to give Ayelet Shaked the Justice portfolio is like giving the Fire and Rescue Services to a pyromaniac.
former9thward
(31,805 posts)The Likud agreed on Wednesday to a Bayit Yehudi demand to give the justice portfolio to MK Ayelet Shaked, according to Channel 2.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to present his 61-member coalition to President Reuven Rivlin later today, as his effort to form a new government has reached its final day permitted by law. Talks with Bayit Yehudi continued late into the hours of Tuesday night.
By law, if Netanyahu does not form a government by midnight on Wednesday, Rivlin will be required to call upon another MK to form a government or initiate a general election. Rivlin could ask Zionist Union chairman Isaac Herzog or an MK in the Likud to attempt to form a government in the event of a Netanyahu failure.
The prime minister has coalition deals with Kulanu, United Torah Judaism and Shas, which together with the Likuds 30 lawmakers, make up 53 MKs. He only needs the eight MKs of Bayit Yehudi to reach the required majority of 61 required to form a coalition.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-caves-in-slated-to-give-Justice-portfolio-to-MK-Ayelet-Shaked-402244