On the way to closing? Dividing up files: These are the agreements forming between Bennett and Lapid

May 7, 2021   

Effort into the night to shut down 'boycott government'': Only a day has passed since the president assigned Yair Lapid the task of forming a government, and negotiations between him and Bennett are gaining momentum. What are your chances of winning a duplex? And why is your dream closer than ever? Free: How much money are you losing because you don't know what your rights are? What do you say about white chocolate with cookie crumbs? And what about a tasty snack? It is a well-known secret that throughout the past month, the negotiating teams of Yamina and Yesh Atid have been sitting down and discussing the formation of a possible government - so now all that remains is to close the gaps. According to a report on Channel 12, the two have so far managed to reach interesting agreements, including on the chairmanship of the Finance Committee and on changing the Basic Law that would lead to the government's downfall if the state budget is not approved by the Knesset. The first agreement is on the Finance Committee: In order to balance the designated Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman and to soften the fury of the Haredi, Bennett and Lapid agreed that the committee would be headed by a representative from the right-wing bloc, or at least a Knesset member with a right-wing leaning. Another agreement between the two was reached following the lesson of the Netanyahu-Gantz government - which disbanded due to the failure to approve the state budget. Therefore, the emerging agreement between Bennett and Lapid will determine that the law goes back 20 years - even if the state budget is not passed, the Knesset does not dissolve. To do this, they will have to pass amendments to the government's Basic Law, and they will do so only after the coalition is sworn in. The reason: The two do not want to drag out the negotiations for too long, while in the background Netanyahu is putting pressure on right-wing MKs to oppose. Among the agreements, there are also disputes that have not yet been resolved - including on the education portfolio. Meretz insists that the portfolio will be in their hands. 'Israel Hayom' reported tonight (Friday night) on some of the job assignments for which agreements have already been reached. According to the emerging division, Naftali Bennett will be the first prime minister in the rotation, Lapid the alternate prime minister and foreign minister, and Avigdor Lieberman the finance minister. Benny Gantz insists on the defense portfolio and it is difficult to see him giving it up, but Gideon Sa'ar is still demanding it. According to 'Israel Hayom', at this stage of the negotiations, Gantz's bargaining power has decreased slightly and the battle for the portfolio may be more complex. If Saar does not receive the security portfolio, he will demand the justice portfolio, which Ayelet Shaked also demands. However, Saar is the head of a party and if he is forced to give up a senior portfolio (foreign, defense, treasury), he will probably receive the justice portfolio. Ayelet Shaked's associates say that she prefers the interior portfolio, but is also mentioned among at least five names in the battle for the transportation portfolio. Two portfolios on which there is relative agreement, according to Israel Hayom, are the education portfolio, which will likely be transferred to Yafat Shasha Biton, and the religious affairs portfolio to Matan Kahane from his right. According to News 12, Meretz insists that the education portfolio will be in their hands. More agreements are emerging regarding the energy portfolio, which will likely go to Amer Bar-Lev from the Labor Party, and the media portfolio to Karin Elharar from Mish Atid. Two portfolios that are considered mediocre but very important are currently reserved for the Labor and Meretz parties: health and public security, which will be held by Merav Michaeli and Nitzan Horowitz. There are quite a few contenders for other portfolios, such as transportation, culture and sports, and also agriculture, from all the partner parties. In the past, Yair Lapid demanded a government of 18 ministers, but he will probably have to compromise and agree to a government of 23-24 ministers. According to Israel Hayom, some of the ministries will be closed completely: these are the Ministry of Water, Higher Education, the Ministry of Community Strengthening and Promotion, the Ministry of Settlement, and apparently also the Ministry of Cyber ​​and Digital.