Netanyahu moves for greater share of power in Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is busy making attempts for a greater share of power in Israel.
On Wednesday, the premier’s Likud party signed agreements with two Israeli parties, which would give him control of 46 seats out of the parliament's 120, Israeli media outlets reported.
The agreements were signed with the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and the center-right Kulanu parties.
UTJ leader Yakov Litzman (pictured below) confirmed to Israeli media that the party “signed a coalition deal with the Likud”.
In an attempt to grab more seats at the Knesset, Netanyahu’s party is still busy negotiating with three other parties, namely the secularist and right-wing nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu, the ultra-orthodox Shas, and the Jewish Home, a Zionist pro-settlement party.
Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett, the current economy minister, has demanded serving as the education minister so as to sign a deal with Netanyahu.
Kulanu’s leader, Moshe Kahlon (pictured below), will serve as finance minister while Yisrael Beiteinu’s head, Avigdor Lieberman, is expected to remain foreign minister.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has granted Netanyahu an extension to form a ruling coalition by May 7.
Controlling Israeli media
Netanyahu is also working on a clause in the agreements that would give him more power over the Israeli media.
“Netanyahu wants to terrorize the media and keep it on a short leash. This could cause serious damage to Israeli democracy,” a source told Israeli daily Haaretz.
A senior Likud figure also told the daily that the party was planning to devote “a major part of the agreement on media issues. There is no doubt that in the next term we will promote significant reforms in the media market. Not everyone will like this”.
On March 17, early elections were held for the 20th Knesset, in which the Likud party won the majority by gaining 30 seats.
NT/AS/MHB
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