One day after Sderot, Gantz’s mandate is ending – and the Likud-Blue negotiations are completely stuck. The parties, which have already come close to concluding and signing a draft agreement to establish a unity government, have a total disconnect. Blue and White are outraged at Netanyahu, claiming that he has returned from all the summaries with a view to blowing the agreement. Likud opponents say blue and white rushed to leak partial details and made it difficult for Netanyahu in front of the right-wing bloc.
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Meanwhile, in the Labor Party, the winds are turbulent after announcing contacts to unite Labor and Blue and White factions. Peretz and Shmuli are expected to be included in any agreement to establish a unity government between the Likud and the Blue and White.
The party conference is expected to convene to authorize entry into government. Historically, Labor has never voted against such a proposal, but this time the opposition is different and the Corona also helps to complicate life for Peretz’s chairman. The conference has thousands of members who, due to the Corona restrictions, will be voting digitally. That means voter turnout is likely to be much higher – and that works against Peretz. Knesset Member Merav Michaeli, who opposes entry to the government, makes a large number of phones.
Conflict of unity contacts – just before concluding
After the Likud and the Blue Party reached agreement on all issues – including those who delayed progress and stalled the contacts – last night (two) parties announced at the last minute an explosion in negotiations over the issue of the appointment of judges and negotiating teams left Prime Minister’s residence in Balfour .
“After reaching understandings on all issues, the Likud asked to rethink the operation of the Judiciary Committee,” said Blue-White, “after which the negotiations were terminated. We will not allow any change in the functioning of the Judiciary Election Committee and the damage to democracy.”
Before the announcement of an explosion in contacts, These are the agreements reached by the parties – Apart from the agreed equitable distribution of 15 ministers per party (which will subsequently become 17 ministers per party, after the Corona crisis):
• Netanyahu will serve first as prime minister for a year and a half, then Gantz will take over as prime minister – for a year and a half
Gantz and Netanyahu will be sworn in as prime minister for the same position. After 18 months, Gantz will automatically assume the post of prime minister. The law will arm 80 MKs and if any of them vote against the budget and bring down the government – the other will become prime minister for the transition government.
• At the request of blue and white – Norwegian law will only introduce a new line of MKs from the list of resilience to Israel (Gantz’s list)
• Appointment of judges – subject to interpretation in a general section that speaks about consensus decision-making
• The issue of official residence financing also for the PM of PM exists in the agreement, but appears dimly: “The designated PM will be entitled to a series of benefits including housing / accommodation …”
• The issue of sovereignty will be brought to the vote within two and a half months, after “consultation” with Gantz and with the Americans’ consent. Freedom of voting will be given to the government on this issue.
Understanding: “As far as President Trump’s statement is concerned – the prime minister and the designated prime minister will act in full agreement with the United States and in dialogue with the international community while maintaining strategic interests and peace agreements.”
