Herzog-led Zionist Union heads to opposition
After Netanyahu gained majority of support from Israel's political party, the man many thought would lead the country announced he will sit the opposition, most likely as its chairman.
Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog said Monday his party was most likely heading to the opposition, where it would serve as an alternative to what he described as an imminent "narrow and dangerous right wing government" headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party won 30 seats, compared with 24 for his main rival, the center-left Zionist Union. It was a huge gain from the last election in 2013, when Likud won 18.
Despite the results, there have been claims that there would be an attempt to form a unity government consisting of both Likud and the Zionist Union, but party officials have rejected the claims, with Herzog calling them a "spin".
"Bibi's games and spins are well known to all… but it will do them little good. The Zionist Union is unified in its support for my decision that we are headed to the opposition," he said, falling short of actually committing not to sit in a Netanyahu-led unity government.
Herzog, who is currently on a short vacation in Israel's north, said the Likud is hoping to use the threat of a unity government as leverage during coalition negotiations, currently in full swing.
"It is embarrassing that someone (Netanyahu) who labeled Herzog and Livni 'anti-Zionists' throughout his campaign is now trying to use the scenario of a unity government to shake down his right wing partners," a source close to Herzog said.
It is also possible the Haredi parties Shas and the United Torah Judaism will join such a government.
Central Elections Committee Chairman Salim Joubran will meet with the president Wednesday, to submit the official election results. Netanyahu will likely be called to the President's Residence on the same day for an official ceremony in which Rivlin will ask him to form the government.
Official coalition negotiations can then begin in earnest, and will take place at the Knesset as a cost-saving measure. The talks come ahead of negotiations over ministerial portfolios, which are to officially begin Wednesday.
Unofficial talks began soon after the release of exit polls on Election Day and over the past two days, Likud MKs Yariv Levin and Ze'ev Elkin have held meetings with some of the leaders of the potential coalition partners.
The potential partners agree on most issues - including some of the government's basic tenets - but several issues remain in dispute, including the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the chairmanship of the Knesset's Finance Committee.
The two other important ministries are the Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry. Likud MKs are angry as it seems more and more likely Netanyahu will give the Foreign Ministry to one of the other parties, after already promising the Finance Ministry to Kulanu's Moshe Kahlon.
Netanyahu and Bennett met on Monday for the first time since the elections. While the two did not discuss the portfolios Bayit Yehudi wants in the new government, Bennett presented his party's basic tenets, insisting they be included in those of the new government. Among them is a bill proposal by MK Ayelet Shaked, seeking to impose high taxes on left-wing NGOs, which the Bayit Yehudi claims act against Israel's interests.
Bennett also demanded that the next government completes the legislation for a bill seeking to enshrine Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, and commits to take a clear right-wing line on diplomatic and defense issues.
When negotiations move their focus to the allocation of the various ministries, Bayit Yehudi will demand an important ministry for Bennett (the defense or foreign portfolios) and two additional ministries for Uri Ariel and Ayelet Shaked. Due to the fact both Yisrael Beytenu and Shas are objecting to a change in the Basic Law: The Government, which limits the amount of ministers to 18, it remains unclear whether Bayit Yehudi can demand three ministries.
Yisrael Beytenu's representatives have stressed that its chairman Avigdor Lieberman will not give up on his demand to take the Defense Ministry. The Likud, however, is interested in keeping the Defense Ministry for incumbent Moshe Ya'alon.
Lieberman himself has repeatedly said that he will not negotiate over ministries before an agreement is made over his party's basic tenets, primarily the death sentence for terrorists.
While Lieberman, the outgoing foreign minister, is fighting for the defense portfolio, Bennett and Likud's Gilad Erdan, Silvan Shalom and Yuval Steinitz are all fighting for the Foreign Ministry. If Lieberman doesn't get the defense portfolio, he expects to remain at the Foreign Ministry.
Kulanu's Yoav Galant and Bayit Yehudi's Shaked are both vying for the Public Security Ministry, while Bayit Yehudi and Shas are fighting over the Religious Services Ministry.
The Justice Ministry, another sough-after post, is being pursued by Likud's Yariv Levin and Benny Begin, and Bayit Yehudi's Bennett, Uri Ariel and Shaked.
Meanwhile, 20 out of the 30 MKs in the largest party in the Knesset, the Likud, demand (or at the very least expect) to be made ministers, but say Netanyahu has left them out of the loop.
"Netanyahu is leaving us in the dark and remaining silent," another party official complained. "He needs to promise us that important ministries will remain in Likud's hands. Meanwhile it seems only one of the three central positions, the defense minister, will stay in Likud's hands - and even that will only happen on a good day."
Moran Azulay contributed to this report
