BINYAMIN NETANYAHU yesterday launched a last-minute effort to enlist the centre-left Labor party as a coalition partner in the next Israeli government, a day after the leader of the rightwing Likud party took another decisive step towards securing the majority he needs to be elected prime minister.
Delegates from the two parties met to discuss details of a coalition agreement, in advance of a crucial convention scheduled for today at which Labor officials will decide whether to join a Netanyahu-led government.
Ehud Barak, the Labor leader and current defence minister, has argued strongly in favour of joining Mr Netanyahu’s coalition – a move that would allow him to keep the defence portfolio.
But other party officials believe that supporting a government dominated by right-wing and religious parties will undermine Labor’s credibility, and further erode the party’s already diminished standing.
Some even predict that the party will split should Mr Barak force through a coalition deal.
The latest moves followed the signing of a coalition agreement between Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party and the ultra-orthodox Shas party on Sunday night.
The deal means the Likud leader now has the support of 53 out of 120 deputies in the Israeli parliament, leaving him just eight votes short of a governing majority. Last week Mr Netanyahu signed a deal with the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, which looks certain to emerge as Likud’s most important coalition partner.
Mr Netanyahu has the option of further bolstering his ranks with another ultra-orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, as well as two smaller far-right parties.
However, he has long been keen to give his coalition a more centrist hue – not least to avoid clashes with the US over the question of peace talks with the Palestinians and the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Winning over the Labor party as a coalition partner would not only lessen the threat of international isolation, but it would also avoid making Mr Netanyahu’s government hostage to the whims of fringe parties with extremist views.
Seven of Labor's 13 parliament members yesterday wrote to Mr Netanyahu, pointing out that a majority of deputies was opposed to the coalition negotiations. – ( Financial Timesservice)