Likud calls coalition demands 'insane and extortionist’ as right-wing parties balk

[Little Tich]

Source: Haaretz

Three days before Netanyahu’s deadline for putting together a coalition, Likud is worried about talks with right-wing parties Habayit Hayehudi, Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu.

Three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadline for putting together a coalition runs out, Likud officials said Saturday they were concerned about the negotiations with right-wing parties Habayit Hayehudi, Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu.

At the same time, in a letter to Netanyahu, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid threatened to go to the High Court of Justice if the prime minister insisted on appointing United Torah Judaism chief Yaakov Litzman deputy health minister.

In the letter, Lapid argued that the post needed a full cabinet minister, not a deputy minister. He also expressed reservations about Litzman and his ultra-Orthodox party.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.654640

Note: This is a Haaretz premium article, you know what to do.

[Scootaloo]

1. Wow, when LIKUD gets to call you "insane and extortionist..."

I mean we're talking about Fat Bibi and his ice cream mafia here...

[shaayecanaan]

2. Bibi looks reasonable when compared with those other guys

He's the last of the Prussian aristocrats. Bismarck perhaps? Its all downhill from there.

[sabbat hunter]

3. actually I don't

what do we do to view the full article, without signing up?


and I hope the talks fail and the Zionist Union is given their shot at forming a coalition.

[Little Tich]

5. Google the title of the article. n/t.

[sabbat hunter]

6. thx

and tick tick tick goes the clock on Bibi's ability to form a coalition.

[Little Tich]

9. I'm holding my fingers crossed... n/t

[bemildred]

4. Tsk. So sad. nt

[sabbat hunter]

7. I KNOW

wouldn't it be a complete shame if Bibi can't form a coalition and it goes to the Zionist Union to form one?

[bemildred]

8. All that effort for nothing.

My heart really goes out to him.

[aranthus]

10. Good news, but there's still three days to go.

So I'm not getting my hopes too high. After that, my guess is that ZU gets its shot at a coalition, which will probably fail, and then new elections.

[sabbat hunter]

11. if ZU

can get the Joint list to support them, (not necessarily fully join the coalition) then ZU can form a coalition with Kulanu, Meretz, Yesh Atid with 63 mandates.

Hopefully Herzog is doing negotiations behind the scenes to get this going as soon as Bibi fails.

[aranthus]

15. I forgot that Joint List could support Herzong without joining his government.

That ups his odds.

[oberliner]

13. That's definitely not happening

He'll go for a unity coalition first.

[geek tragedy]

12. Naftali Bennett would welcome new elections.

Bibi has already backed off the rhetoric that helped him take voters from Bennett.

[Ken Burch]

14. How much longer does he get to put a coalition together?

It's been a month-and-a half since the last election.

[Little Tich]

16. Netanyahu has until wednesday to form a coalition, and there will be no more extensions. n/t