Is Bibi in danger of failing to form a government?

This Monday, he was granted a two-week extension to the 28 days he had been given to form a coalition; the process was delayed first by Pesach, then by a brief war with Hamas.

The problem is, none of Binyamin Netanyahu’s supposed coalition partners are showing any willingness to sign on the dotted line yet. The Union of Right-Wing Parties (URP) is holding out for the justice portfolio, which they want to award to Tkuma leader Bezalel Smotrich. In addition, the URP wants Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz appointed as the next education minister.

While Netanyahu seems willing to give Peretz his portfolio, Netanyahu wants to give the Justice Ministry to Likudnik Yariv Levin. This won’t do for Smotrich, who sees the Justice Ministry as a way to serve his right-wing constituency in the settlements. Instead, Likud is offering Smotrich the internal security portfolio, a position he has so far rejected because it doesn’t help him advance his political goals.

Likewise, United Torah Judaism has its own demands. UTJ wants the authority to act against public chillul Shabbos and has requested immediate housing solutions for the chareidi sector. Specifically, UTJ wants the government to expand housing solutions in the chareidi cities of Elad, Beit Shemesh, Rechasim, Kiryat Yearim, and Har Yona. UTJ also wants the neighborhoods being built near Yavne and Kiryat Gat to serve the chareidi populace.

In conversation with Mishpacha, Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman said he was confident the party would reach an agreement with Likud. Concerning the remaining points of contention, Litzman said: “Agreements are comprised of sections. We’ll start working our way through the sections and see.” When asked if the draft law would be amended, Litzman responded, “B’ezras Hashem.”

In concert with these negotiations, Netanyahu is reportedly insisting on a legal annex with coalition members that would ensure support for a new bill in the next Knesset that would shield the prime minister from prosecution while still in office. Haaretz reported Monday that the new legislation would also allow the Knesset to ignore rulings of the Supreme Court in some legislative and administrative matters.

Netanyahu is insistent on this point, because there are three pending indictments against him that could sink his political career. But there’s also a larger story, which is the ongoing fight of the right wing against judicial activism on the left. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked took major strides during her term, and it seems that Netanyahu  — and either Smotrich or Levin  — will take up her mantle.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 760)