Talks underway to form national unity government

Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid won't object to Shas and United Torah Judaism joining the coalition.

There have been talks since last night involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set up a national unity government following the escalation in the security situation. The idea is to bring in the haredi United Torah Judaism and Shas parties to broaden the base of the government coalition.

There have been such talks in recent weeks but negotiations were hampered by the knowledge that Finance Minister Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party was unlikely to sit in the government alongside the haredi parties.

However, the fierce rocket barrages against Israel from the south to the north could provide an excuse in the name of national solidarity for Lapid to remain in the coalition even if Shas and United Torah Judaism join. Sources close to Lapid say that the Finance Minister would not object at the moment, having already passed the IDF Conscription Law, if an emergency national unity government was set up Other coalitions partners such as Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael-Beitenu also have no objections.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 9, 2014

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014

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