MK Shelah: Netanyahu's behavior moves us closer to elections
As Lapid and Netanyahu fight over Israel's next budget, Lapid's deputy and Yesh Atid strong man says if Netanyahu continues this way, Lapid could leave government, and Israel could see elections soon.
Yair Lapid's deputy and chairman of the Yesh Atid faction, MK Ofer Shelah, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's behavior surrounding the looming 2015 budget could lead Israel to an early election.
Finance Minister Lapid and Netanyhau have been at odds over the 2015 budget, with two clashing over the need to either raise taxes or increase the deficit to cover increased defense spending. Also, Netanyahu recently told ultra-Orthodox MKs from the opposition that he does not support Lapid's flagship legislation in the housing field.
"Netanyahu's behavior," MK Shelah said, "indicates chances of an election are increasing. The decision is with prime minister," he said in a lightly veiled threat, indicating that the budget could be a political watershed for Yesh Atid should Netanyahu try and pass a budget incongruent with the party's agenda.
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According to MK Shelah, who is also a members of the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, Netanyahu "has forced the budget issue into a conflict with a the finance minister over things which I personally know Lapid will not give up on. I cannot say that the prime minister is indicating he wants an election, but there are some signs pointing that way."
Reiterating Yesh Atid's longstanding position of reaching a diplomatic solution with the Palestinians, also a point of tension with Netanyahu, he said that such a move could possibly change the coalition's formation.
"If Netanyahu goes for a political process, the Labor party could find itself in government, however I am one of those who thinks Netanyahu will not go for such a process."
Regarding the possibility of renewed fighting in Gaza, MK Shelah said that "we could find ourselves in a situation in which fighting starts anew if (indirect) negotiations (with Gaza factions) don’t start within a few weeks."
Budget politics
One of the central issues facing the 2015 budget is balancing Israel's deficit whilst raising the defense budget. At the beginning of the week, Netanyahu said he wants Israel to keep the deficit as is, while Lapid is adamant on not raising taxes – the only alternative if the defense budget will increase.
Lapid is also fighting to see his 0% VAT bill - which will exempt young couples from paying the tax when purchasing a home - pass. Netanyahu is opposed said to be opposed to the latter and prefers rising to taxes to expanding the deficit.
A source close to Lapid said Friday that "we will not give up on our promise not to raise taxes or see the 0% VAT passed. If Netanyahu wants Lapid to be chairman of the opposition, then he should make sure to prevent these two things."
However, affiliates of Lapid say could compromise on the issue of the defense budget.
On the backdrop of tensions between the two over the budget, the details of which have yet to be published, the government's weekly meeting Sunday has been canceled, for the third week in a row. Instead, Lapid and Netanyahu will meet Sunday to try and reach a compromise.
The sides exchanged accusation regarding the meeting's cancelation, with a source within the Prime Minister's Office saying that "the meeting was postponed because of the need to conduct marathon discussions regarding the budget – a result of the fact that the current budget simply does not address the threats without raising the deficit," which Netanyahu will not abide.
A source close to Lapid said in response that it was Netanyahu was fault: "When the prime minister will decide what he wants, we will have budget in three hours. The problem is that Netanyahu – in classic Netanyahu fashion – is dragging his feet and having a hard time deciding. He is agonizing over the decision, so we're stuck."
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
