The negotiations for enlarging the government coalition took a step forward today when Yisrael Beitenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman declared that his party would join the government if it receives an offer that fulfills its demands. Following his declaration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Liberman for an afternoon meeting.
Netanyahu also informed Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon in advance of his meeting with Liberman that he would give Liberman the defense portfolio.
At the same time, a unity government with the Zionist Union is also on the agenda, but opposition and Zionist Union chairman MK Isaac Herzog made it clear that he would not negotiate entering the government simultaneously with Liberman.
MK Micky Rosenthal (Zionist Union) called for Herzog's resignation, saying, "Herzog should go home." MK Stav Shafir (Zionist Union) attacked Herzog for his talks with Netanyahu about a unity government. "Herzog should go home. It's clear now that Netanyahu used Herzog to get Liberman into the government," she wrote on her Facebook account.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 18, 2016
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