Netanyahu: I will continue working to expand the government
Key party leaders speak before Knesset vote on change to the Basic Law limiting the cabinet to 18 ministers; Netanyahu: 'The challenges before us are major.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday that he will continue working to expand his narrow 61-member government, but noted the job of forming a working coalition was "not simple."
"The challenges before us are major in facing them, we need the greatest support possible from the public," said the prime minister ahead of a crucial vote in the Knesst on a bill allowing the expansion of the government past its current limit of 18 ministers.
Netanyahu, who was talking at a Likud faction meeting, stressed that the new government will work for all Israelis on important issues such as security and the cost of living. He also said that despite many concessions to smaller parties in the coalition, the Likud party will lead the government's actions in alignment with the large percentage of votes gained from the civilian public.
Speaking at a Zionist Union party meeting, Opposition leader Isaac Herzog used some of his strongest language yet against Netanyahu's impending government. "Netanyahu has failed to form a government," said Herzog. "We need to have fresh elections."
"We have here a rare moment, very rare for a big, strong, political camp, to prevent the creation of a government that's threatening to Israel," said Herzog.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, a long-time partner of Netanyahu who decided not to join the new government, also did not spare the prime minister his criticism.
"There's no doubt Netanyahu deceived and lied to primarily the Soviet Union public," Lieberman accused. "I'm hearing Netanyahu's declarations in all of the Russian media, what didn't he promise? He promised the earth. In all of the agreements, the issue of aliyah (immigration) doesn't even exist. He was talking about pensions and rent, help to new immigrants - and there's no trace of any of this."
The former foreign minister said he noticed a lot of anger within Likud against Netanyahu. "I have more friends in Likud and among the activists than Netanyahu does," he said.
Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, whose petition to the Supreme Court against Netanyahu's initiative to expand the government failed, accused the prime minister of "betraying the public's trust."
Netanyahu, he said, "wasn't elected to be a prime minister only for those close to him. He is disgracing the Knesset, the law and the democratic process."
Lapid claimed adding more ministers will lead to the spending of hundrends of millions of shekels. "The money will go to unnecessary jobs and government ministries no one needs," he said. "Is that what the Likud voters wanted? This is what they elected him for? For him to take their money and spend it on giving out jobs?"
He vowed to continue fighting the bill to expand the government.
Meanwhile, Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett spoke in a brief press conference Monday afternoon, praising his achievements in coalition negotiations with Netanyahu including millions in funds for education and the payment of soldiers in the IDF.
Bennett also stressed that despite having a narrow majority of just 61 seats in the Knesset, the new government can be effective but will require politicians to support one another in their efforts and work together.
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