MESOPOTAMIA NEWS ISRAEL : Likud plans ‘pressure blitz’ on Yamina MKs in effort to undercut budding government

Most political leaders remain conspicuously mum following the announcement on the new government as Likud plans to maximize pressure on Yamina MKs in hopes they will torpedo the budding coalition at the last minute.

By  Yehuda Shlezinger , Danielle Roth-Avneri and News Agencies –   Published on  06-03-2021 09:10 ISRAEL HAYOM – Yesh Atid on Thursday presented the Knesset Secretariat with the signatures of 61 lawmakers, seeking to cement the change of government in Israel.The so-called “pro-change” bloc seeks to have the new government sworn in by next Wednesday. According to Channel 12 News, Yesh Atid has also presented a motion to immediately replace Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin (Likud) with MK Mickey Levy, as it is believed Levin will use his power to delay the vote in an effort to delay the unseating of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid informed President Reuven Rivlin that has was able to form a government late on Wednesday night – in fact, just 30 minutes before the midnight deadline of his mandate was to elapse.

Given the drama surrounding the coalition talks, most Israeli politicians were conspicuously silent following Lapid’s announcement, most notably Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, who is slated to become prime minister.

Rivlin congratulated Lapid, saying he hopes “the Knesset convenes as soon as possible to approve the government, as required.”

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said, “This is a night of great hope. I congratulate my partners in the pro-change bloc and I’m convinced that we can finally form a government that would pursue uniting and healing Israeli society.”

Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz also tweeted his congratulations to the new coalition’s partners.

The makeup of the emerging Center-Left government will see Bennett serve as prime minister first, with Lapid serving as PM-designate and foreign minister.

Gantz will remain defense minister; Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked will be named interior minister, Labor leader Merav Michaeli will serve as transportation minister, New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar will be the justice minister, and Yisrael Beytenu’s Avigdor Lieberman will serve as finance minister.

Horowitz will be named health minister, Labor MK Omer Bar-Lev will be the public security minister, New Hope MK Yoaz Hendel was named communication minister, New Hope MK Yifat Shasha-Biton will serve as education minister, Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg will serve as environmental protection minister, and fellow party MK Esawi Frej will serve as regional cooperation minister.