Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett
Jewish Home chairman Naftali BennettBen Kelmer/Flash 90

Despite angry tension between Likud and Jewish Home throughout the coalition negotiation process, Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett said Monday night that the two parties had made headway. 

The Economy Minister, who has been vocal about his desire for the foreign affairs ministry, faced a backlash from Likud members who charged Jewish Home with being excessive in its demands. 

Bennett, in turn, accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of abandoning Likud's good chances to form a narrow right-wing government for a unity deal with Labor on the Left instead. 

Updating on Twitter, Bennett wrote that "there is progress" when it comes to Jewish Home's demands to raise the salaries of third-year combat soldiers as well increasing the grant given to soldiers at the conclusion of their mandatory service. 

Regarding other issues, most pressingly government positions, Bennett said, the two parties were still stuck. 

Following reports that Likud's talks with the center-right Kulanu and the haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism had progressed, Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) called on Netanyahu to take the reins of coalition negotiations and change gears. 

According to Ariel, the issues on which the parties diverge could be solved if only negotiators began to discuss them with the proper seriousness. 

"The negotiations are being conducted very slowly," Ariel said, before suggesting that these last-hour disputes would ultimately need to be resolved by the Prime Minister. 

Disagreements concern such issues as construction in Jerusalem and the Jewish State Law, which are reflective of the composition and the decisions likely to be made by the next government, Ariel explained. 

"The Prime Minister needs to pass this course," he added.