Coalition negotiations between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the Labor party are stuck over Labor's demand that Livni, who heads the ruling Kadima party, get rid of Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann.
Labor head and Defense Minister Ehud Barak reportedly told Livni, "Look, I will feel very uncomfortable being sworn in as a minister in your government alongside Daniel Friedmann." Barak was also quoted in a report published by the Hebrew-language daily Haaretz as saying, "I am not demanding that you fire Friedmann, but just make it work out."
Ramon threatening
Barak suggested that the coalition agreement include a clause which says that the Minister of Justice will not be allowed to advance or bring to a vote any law, regulation or initiative without the consent of the Labor party. Livni rejected this idea.
According to earlier reports, Vice Prime Minister Chaim Ramon is pressuring Livni from the other side, and threatening that he will "take personally" any attempt to get rid of Friedmann.
Ramon, who was Justice Minister before Friedmann, is one of the founders of Kadima and a central figure in its power structure. His departure could lead to a split in Kadima and damage Livni's potential to govern.
Barak adamant
Barak, on the other hand, is still adamant that Friedmann must not continue in his post. Friedmann is seen by parts of the judicial and political system – as well as the media – as a threat, because his initiatives regulate and curtail some of the power of the Supreme Court.
Friedmann – who is a highly respected law professor with no previous political background – has been very critical of the Supreme Court, hinting that it was involved in trumping up charges against Ramon in order to prevent him from serving as Minister of Justice.
Friedmann's opponents say that nothing less than his departure will satisfy them. They describe him as a schemer and predict that any solution which leaves him in the government will fail.
Livni's time running out
The 28-day period which Livni was allotted to form a coalition will run out on the day after Simchat Torah, less than two weeks from Friday. She will still have the option of asking the President for an extension of 14 days in which to try and finalize the negotiations, but if she fails to reach an agreement after that time, the President must either hand the task to someone else, or call for new elections.
Analysts estimate that negotiations with Shas hinge on the success of Livni's talks with Labor. Shas chairman Eli Yishai is said to prefer elections and the creation of a new coalition with Likud at the helm. However, if Livni succeeds in creating a partnership with Labor and then threatens Shas with the possibility that she will form a coalition with Meretz and without them, they will become pliable.