Gilad Erdan
Photo: Ido Erez
Netanyahu trying to bring Erdan back into the fold
Sources close to Netanyahu said Erdan will have to join gov't under conditions set by PM before the formation of gov't.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with former minister Gilad Erdan met on Wednesday in an attempt to bring Erdan back into the government.
Erdan, who came first in the Likud primaries, initially decided not to join the new government after he was unhappy with the portfolios offered to him by the prime minister, which in his opinion were not senior enough and did not befit his status as number two on the Likud's Knesset list.
Now, after the 34th government has been sworn in, Netanyahu is trying to bring Erdan back into the fold by looking for a compromise both sides can live with.
Netanyahu vs. Erdan (Photo: Reuter, Ido Erez)
Sources close to the prime minister, however, said that if Erdan were to join the government now, it would be under conditions set by Netanyahu before the government was formed and that "at best, he will receive a bonus."
The rift between Erdan and Netanyahu grew this week after the prime minister fired the Communications Ministry director-general, Avi Berger, who implemented Erdan's reforms at the ministry.
In response to that move, Erdan announced he plans to submit a private bill proposal that would limit national phone company Bezeq's activity to infrastructure, and no longer allow it to sell services directly to the consumer.
