coalition negotiations

Smotrich's achievements:

Budgets for state-religious education, Jewish settlement

National-Religious Chief Rabbi to be appointed, programs to enhance Jewish identity promoted.

Coalition agreements today:

Parties commit to enact multiple religious right-wing policies

New govt to overturn many of outgoing govt's signature measures, focus on Jewish identity.

Coalition breakthrough:

Netanyahu commits to amending Law of Return by April

Less than a third of recent immigrants from Eastern Europe are Jewish, many of the non-Jews take their benefits and leave.

Mission accomplished:

Netanyahu to proclaim success in forming a government

Compromises abound but at least one statement of principles will be signed today, sources say.

MK Danon to INN:

'Splitting up ministries - a necessity that can be lived with'

MK Danny Danon is still fighting to be named Knesset Speaker, although he is not Netanyahu's favorite for the position.

Likud, UTJ at odds over emergency road to haredi hospital

UTJ demands coalition agreement include building of access road to Mayanei Hayeshua to prevent ambulances from being stuck in traffic.

Report:

Netanyahu considering rotation in Foreign Ministry

PM-designate considering appointing senior Likud member as Foreign Minister for two years, to be followed by former Ambassador Ron Dermer.

Netanyahu officially asks for extension to form government

In letter, PM-designate says he has reached agreements with some parties, needs more time for others.

MK Danny Danon:

'I will refuse an offer to be a minister in a rotation'

MK Danny Danon: If they offer me to be a minister for a two-year period, I will refuse.

Netanyahu to ask for more time to form government

President to ask PM-designate about progress in coalition negotiations, why agreements with haredi parties delayed.

Bitan in message to Netanyahu:

'The problems will come from the other parties, not from me'

MK David Bitan: Likud made a mistake by giving Avi Maoz authority over 2 billion shekels.

Bitan criticizes Netanyahu:

'Likud gave Smotrich everything he wanted'

MK David Bitan criticizes the chairman of his party, says he is not looking after the members of the Likud.

Haredi faction demands: Draft Law before coalition agreements

Right-religious parties all demand legislation of specific laws before formation of new government.

Rift between would-be coalition partners deepens

United Torah Judaism party fumes after Likud splits Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry, handing one half to Otzma Yehudit.

Netanyahu to seek more time to form government

PM-designate to ask for 2-week extension with 12 days to go to form a government.

United Torah Judaism:

'We won't sign without detailed agreement on religion and state'

UTJ party clarifies: 'We're not seeking jobs, we won't sign a coalition agreement without reaching agreement on issues of religion & state.'

Netanyahu to choose temporary Knesset speaker

Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu expected to appoint temporary Knesset Speaker on Tuesday, choosing from top three candidates.

Deri shouts at Netanyahu as coalition negotiations drag on

Shas party furious after being forced to make even more concessions to allow other parties to reach agreements with Likud.

This is the main disagreement between Religious Zionism & Likud

While Smotrich demands control of Civil Administration, Netanyahu worries policies will cause diplomatic conflicts with US, EU, report says.

Likud MK:

'Our partners understand there's no choice but to form a gov't'

'The direction is positive, we want to complete the negotiations this week, ' Likud MK Miki Zohar says.

Haredi party demands metro in Bnei Brak

United Torah Judaism demands subway run through Bnei Brak, insists that status quo for Sabbath observance be maintained.

MK Rabbi Eliyahu to INN:

'We will go back to controlling the Temple Mount'

Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu demands to take strong action against activists who hinder the IDF and strives to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem

MK Strock criticizes Ben Gvir:

'Negev and Galilee Ministry can't help the young settlements'

According to Strock, 'The residents of the young settlements are worried that this is just a car without a motor'

Haredi MK: 'Likud not treating us as partners'

MK Meir Porush accuses Likud party of dragging its feet, not treating United Torah Judaism as partners.

'Divide and conquer?' Haredi MK fumes

United Torah Judaism's MK Moshe Gafni fumes as Likud schedules separate meeting with Gafni's partner, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf.

Hanegbi:

'There will be enough ministries, positions for Likud members'

Former Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi tells current party MKs not to worry about number of prominent ministries being given to other parties.

Normalizing young settlements:

The agreement between Likud and Otzma Yehudit

Sources involved in coalition negotiations detail the agreements between Likud and Otzma Yehudit on the issue of young settlements.

Report: Netanyahu attempted to split Religious Zionism

Adviser to PM-designate Netanyahu offered Religious Zionism MK to serve as minister - in exchange for breaking off from party, report says.

Poll:

Public approves of Ben Gvir's ministerial appointment

Things look different, however, for Aryeh Deri, Bezalel Smotrich and Miri Regev.

Netanyahu and Deri aim for coalition agreement Wednesday night

PM-designate Netanyahu and Shas chief Deri meet, aiming to sign coalition agreement on Wednesday night.

Likud releases coalition demands

Partial list of Likud demands includes raising soldiers' salaries, strengthening Knesset, and supporting settlements.

Amir Ohana may become Foreign Minister, in place of Ron Dermer

Likud MK Ron Dermer no longer considered a candidate for Foreign Minister, MK Amir Ohana likely to take position instead, reports say.

Rabbi Eliyahu:

'There are haredi rabbis who I don't want to see as Chief Rabbi'

'First parameter for a chief rabbi is fear of Heaven,' Otzma Yehudit's Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu says.

Former ambassador: Mistake to give 3 ministries to one person

MK Danny Danon warns against granting Shas chief more than one ministry for himself. 'Not proper, from an operational standpoint.'

MK Bitan is pessimistic:

'I know Smotrich - there will be problems every week'

Likud MK disappointed with the conduct of the coalition negotiations.

Likud MK insists: Top portfolios must remain within Likud

MK Shlomo Karhi insists Finance, Defense, and Foreign ministries remain within the Likud.

Religious Zionism to Likud: 'We'll form a government together'

MK Bezalel Smotrich joins conference alongside Likud representatives, tells them that 'a good government will be formed in the coming days.'

Otzma Yehudit MK: '

'The crisis is real - if we need to, we'll be in the opposition'

MK Tzvika Fogel explains why party stopped negotiations with Likud, says it will keep its promises to the voters, or sit in the opposition.

Shas MK: 'Don't worry, Aryeh Deri will be a senior minister'

'New government must make real reforms to entire judicial system,' Shas MK Michael Malkieli stresses.

Smotrich willing to forgo Defense Ministry - on one condition

Religious Zionism chief agrees to forgo Defense Ministry - but only if he receives responsibility for management of Judea & Samaria affairs.

Smotrich responds to attacks:

'We will keep to our demands, they can't turn us into an enemy'

Netanyahu supporters are attacking the Religious Zionism chair for standing by his demand to be Defense Minister in the next government.

Likud offers Foreign Ministry to Smotrich

Netanyahu hopes to persuade Smotrich to drop demand for Defense or Finance portfolio.

Netanyahu offers compensation package to Smotrich

Netanyahu sends Religious Zionism's Smotrich offer of 'compensation package' in exchange for agreement to forgo Finance, Defense ministries.

Ben-Gvir to Netanyahu:

Appoint Smotrich to position of Defense Minister

MK Ben-Gvir calls for MK Smotrich to be given Defense Ministry, says move will allow right-wing policies. 'His demand is legitimate.'

This is the compromise deal Netanyahu and Deri offered

It is not yet clear if Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu will succeed in forming a government by the middle of next week.

Coalition talk compromise:

Interior and Religious Affairs to Deri; Finance to Smotrich

Shas is expected to give up its hold on Finance Ministry, but in return, Religious Zionism will have to give up Religious Affairs Ministry.

Netanyahu sets deadline for forming government

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu sets middle of next week as deadline for swearing in new government.

Haredi MK: If Religious Zionism isn't in - neither is UTJ

Senior source in United Torah Judaism clarifies: If MK Smotrich isn't in the coalition, neither are we; victory belongs to the entire bloc.

Death penalty for terrorists?

Likud, Otzma Yehudit, still in disagreement

Likud resistant to demand to legislate death penalty for terrorists holding Israeli citizenship.

Netanyahu to Smotrich:

Because of me you united with Ben-Gvir and have 14 seats

Details of contentious meeting between PM-designate, Religious Zionism party revealed. Smotrich: Because of me Silman left the coalition.

Coalition negotiations remain deadlocked over portfolios

PM-designate meets Shas chairman Deri for 20 minutes. 'A little patience, and with G-d's help we will establish a right-wing government.'

Shas MK: Aryeh Deri could be a successful Defense Minister

Shas MK Uriel Busso says he believes party chief Aryeh Deri will be Finance Minister, but says he could succeed with 'any portfolio.'

Netanyahu to Smotrich:

Choose any ministry - other than Defense or Finance

No progress in coalition talks between Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu and MK Smotrich - despite meeting between them.

Gantz to remain Defense Minister?

Defense Min. Benny Gantz may be offered to join coalition in exchange for remaining in his position, sources say.

Shas chief's wife says husband won't take Defense Ministry

Yaffa Deri, wife of Shas chief Aryeh Deri, says her husband wants to help weaker sectors. 'From his perspective, he's in the Finance Min.'

Likud MK on Defense Ministry: 'Netanyahu won't be extorted'

'Likud will have a large number of portfolios, we insist on at least two of the three senior portfolios,' MK Miki Zohar says.

Haredi newspaper: 'Smotrich has no more than 7 MKs behind him'

Yated Ne'eman slams Religious Zionism chief MK Bezalel Smotrich for demanding Defense Ministry with 'no more than 7 MKs behind him.'

Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu:

'We'll have right-wing government soon, there's mutual respect'

Otzma Yehudit MK-elect Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu says coalition negotiations nearing their end, new government will heal rifts.

Fury in Likud:

Former ambassador set to be appointed Foreign Min.?

'If Netanyahu appoints Ron Dermer to the Foreign Ministry, he will be deriding Likud voters.'

Senior UTJ member:

'Deri's demands are just an act to get Smotrich to give up'

A member of the haredi UTJ party told INN that the Shas leader 'does not see a reason or an interest to take the finance portfolio.