Negotiations continued overnight between the NRP and Shinui, and United Torah Judaism clarified its position regarding its ongoing negotiations with the Likud.
According to Knesset member Yakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism, his party would be willing to accept a government post, were it to join the government coalition. From the perspective of the party, this would be in lieu of the chairmanship of the Knesset finance committee, which the Likud says it will hold for its own party member. Litzman served as the committee chairman in the past, one of the more influential positions in the government structure, and UTJ would like to receive the post again if it is accepted into the coalition. UTJ leaders said today that there has been no breakthroughs in their negotiations with the Likud party.
Meanwhile, an overnight meeting between National Religious Party chairman Effie Eitam and Shinui chairman Yosef (Tommy) Lapid ended this morning, without results. The two party leaders met to discuss the possibility of a modus vivendi were they to sit together in the government coalition. The negotiations were facilitated by Uri Shani and several business leaders also took part. Yesterday, NRP leaders said that they do not rule out any party as a coalition partner with them, inclusive of Shinui, despite its anti-religious positions; in fact, NRP spokesmen put great emphasis on their talks with Shinui as representing a recognition that a large number of Israelis are fed up with the official representation of Judaism, and the NRP sees it as an important task to dialogue with the representatives of that point of view. At the same time, the NRP has indicated that they will not compromise on matters of Jewish law in the public sphere. As of now, it appears that another meeting is planned.
According to Knesset member Yakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism, his party would be willing to accept a government post, were it to join the government coalition. From the perspective of the party, this would be in lieu of the chairmanship of the Knesset finance committee, which the Likud says it will hold for its own party member. Litzman served as the committee chairman in the past, one of the more influential positions in the government structure, and UTJ would like to receive the post again if it is accepted into the coalition. UTJ leaders said today that there has been no breakthroughs in their negotiations with the Likud party.
Meanwhile, an overnight meeting between National Religious Party chairman Effie Eitam and Shinui chairman Yosef (Tommy) Lapid ended this morning, without results. The two party leaders met to discuss the possibility of a modus vivendi were they to sit together in the government coalition. The negotiations were facilitated by Uri Shani and several business leaders also took part. Yesterday, NRP leaders said that they do not rule out any party as a coalition partner with them, inclusive of Shinui, despite its anti-religious positions; in fact, NRP spokesmen put great emphasis on their talks with Shinui as representing a recognition that a large number of Israelis are fed up with the official representation of Judaism, and the NRP sees it as an important task to dialogue with the representatives of that point of view. At the same time, the NRP has indicated that they will not compromise on matters of Jewish law in the public sphere. As of now, it appears that another meeting is planned.