Israel might be heading for elections sooner than expected after a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yair Lapid Monday night, which was meant to address the coalition crisis threatening the fragile alliance, ended with the two sides exchanging unprecedented accusations.
Netanyahu told Lapid that he could not govern under the current reality, in which the Yesh Atid chairman and his faction members constantly criticize the government which they have taken part in.
The prime minister presented Lapid with five conditions for maintaining the current coalition:
Netanyahu told Lapid that he could not govern under the current reality, in which the Yesh Atid chairman and his faction members constantly criticize the government which they have taken part in.
The prime minister presented Lapid with five conditions for maintaining the current coalition:
- Stop undermining the government, especially over construction in Jerusalem and ties with the US.
- Transfer, as promised, six billion shekels to the defense budget for training and procurements, including Iron Dome and heavy APCs.
- Free up funds for the IDF's planned relocation to southern Israel.
- Support the 'Jewish nationhood' bill as formulated on the principles presented by the prime minister.
- Freeze the zero-VAT proposal, instead using the 3 billion shekels previously allocated to produce real housing solutions to reduce prices.
