The fight over government ministries begins
Bayit Yehudi will demand three ministries, while Lieberman will seek either the defense of foreign portfolio. Kahlon will set his price as the Finance Ministry, while many inside Likud will fight for what's left.
Now that the elections are behind him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to secure 30 seats while his rivals in the Zionist Union only won 24, it's time for him to start negotiations on the makeup of his next government.
The clear and large gap between Likud and Zionist Union is expected to accelerate talks between Netanyahu and his potential coalition partners. But while Likud's achievement is undoubtedly impressive, the demands for ministries - both within and without - are expected to cause Netanyahu quite a headache. Some party leaders, and even members of his own party, see themselves as partners to Netanyahu's victory and are awaiting their reward in the form of a senior ministry.
"Unity is not on the table, Netanyahu is seeking to form a narrow right-wing government," senior Likud officials told Ynet.
Negotiating teams started coalition talks overnight, soon after the release of exit polls that initially showed Likud and Zionist Union neck and neck with 27 seats each, and continued on Wednesday morning.
Bayit Yehudi will likely ask for senior portfolios, as it views itself, according to senior officials in the party, as the party that crowned Netanyahu and helped secure his rule. Bayit Yehudi considers it a "moral debt," since it was the first party to support Netanyahu and announce they would recommend him to the president to form the next government.
As part of negotiations, Bayit Yehudi is expected to ask for a senior ministry for party leader Naftali Bennett, and two others for Uri Ariel and Ayelet Shaked. The party only has 8 seats, which will likely not be enough to get them three ministries based on guidelines set forth by the Likud for the new government, but it expects three ministries nevertheless due to the fact Bayit Yehudi is Likud's natural partner and in light of an expectation, which they claim exists in the religious Zionist public, from Netanyahu to give them three ministries.
Bennett is expected to find himself facing off with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who might also demand a senior ministry in the next government - either defense, or staying on as foreign minister.
Another key player in the formation of the coalition is Moshe Kahlon. The Kulanu leader is bringing 10 seats to the negotiating table and according to initial talks with his people, he will insist on getting the Finance Ministry after basing his entire campaign on socio-economic issues. Kahlon is in no hurry, and talks with him are not expected to start before Sunday. He is also expected to demand control over the Israel Land Authority in order to address the housing crisis, and two additional important social ministries.
The big battle: Splitting the spoils in Likud
Likud's 30 seats are also expected to cause struggles within the party. Ministers who served in the outgoing Knesset are expected to continue serving, but party officials believe the younger MKs will want to upgrade their status as well.But it's the battle at the top echelons of the party that is going to cause Netanyahu the most trouble.
The transportation minister in the past two terms, Israel Katz, has given Netanyahu a lot of support in internal party affairs and expects to get the most senior ministry the ruling party keeps to itself in return. Recently, Katz has expressed desire to take on the Finance Ministry, but if the ministry is given to Kahlon as part of coalition negotiations, Katz might want an important social portfolio or to continue in the Transportation Ministry instead.
Interior Minister Gilad Erdan also sees himself as a leading candidate for the most senior portfolio after winning the top spot on the Likud Knesset list in the primaries.
The two most prominent women in the party will also seek their own ministries. Miri Regev, who was placed fifth on the Likud list and is considered the strongest woman in Likud, will ask Netanyahu for the welfare or economy portfolios. Gila Gamliel, meanwhile, to whom Netanyahu promised a ministry regardless of her placing on the Likud list, expects the prime minister to make good on that promise.
Two additional prominent candidates for ministerial positions are Yariv Levin, the chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who helped Netanyahu run his complicated former coalition, and Ze'ev Elkin, who served as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the past.
