Lieberman willing to compromise
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Lieberman: Civil marriages not my 1st priority
Yisrael Beiteinu leader reportedly prepared to compromise in order to join forces with Shas in Netanyahu-led government
The issue of civil marriages is not a top priority for Yisrael Beiteinu, party leader Avigdor Lieberman said in closed-door sessions Monday, paving the way for joining forces with Shas in a Netanyahu-led government.
Lieberman reportedly stressed that his party's top priority is the granting of legislative and financial preference to discharged soldiers, followed by efforts to change Israel's system of government, Ynet learned, with the issue of civil marriages only coming next.
The Yisrael Beiteinu leader is apparently preparing to reach a compromise on the issue of civil marriages in order to enable his party and Shas to join the next government. Lieberman reportedly made it clear that such compromises may materialize in allowing roughly 100,000 Israelis who are not defined as Jews to marry amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, Shas made it clear that should Lieberman make do with finding such solution for marriages between non-Jews living in Israel, the major disagreements between Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas will be resolved.
Lieberman also said, in closed-door sessions, that he intends to demand the Defense or Foreign Affairs portfolio, with a preference for the latter. Overall, Yisrael Beiteinu is interested in a total of four government portfolios in the next government, including a financial portfolio and possibly the Internal Security Ministry.
