Report: Blue-And-White To Allow Rotation With Netanyahu

Reports from the negotiations taking place between the Likud and Blue-And-White imply that the two sides are still far apart but are beginning to show signs of conceding on various issues which they had been insistent on before the elections.

For example, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin who is conducting negotiations for the Likud hinted that when he had stressed that Netanyahu is Likud’s sole representative for prime minister , “they didn’t throw me out the room.” Yet while Levin is conducting negotiations as if he represents the entire right-wing bloc of 55 MKs, including the Chareidi and religious Zionist parties, Blue-And-White stressed that they are only negotiating with the Likud at present.

Netanyahu himself has apparently resigned himself to a rotation with Benny Gantz as prime minister, but insists on being the first to serve. The prime minister is even willing to serve for a shorter period than Gantz if he is allowed to serve first as prime minister, according to a report by Arutz Sheva.

Levin added that Blue-And-White raised the five issues which Yair Lapid has insisted on regarding issues of religion and state: The conscription law must pass without any modifications (such as removing criminal sanctions for those who do not enlist), public transport must be allowed on Shabbat, supermarkets must be allowed to open on Shabbat, civil marriage must be instituted as a parallel option to religious marriage and the Kotel arrangement (allowing for a separate place of worship for reform Jews) must be ratified.

None of these issues could be accepted by the religious parties and the question remains whether the Likud will maintain its insistence on the entire right-wing bloc, in which case the religious issues cannot be a part of a coalition agreement, or whether it will cave in and enter a government without its other partners despite the anti-religious demands of Blue-And-White.