Bibi’s High-Wire Act

Is Bibi in danger of failing to form a government?

This Monday, he was granted a two-week extension to the 28 days he had been given to form a coalition; the process was delayed first by Pesach, then by a brief war with Hamas.

The problem is, none of Binyamin Netanyahu’s supposed coalition partners are showing any willingness to sign on the dotted line yet. The Union of Right-Wing Parties (URP) is holding out for the justice portfolio, which they want to award to Tkuma leader Bezalel Smotrich. In addition, the URP wants Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz appointed as the next education minister.

While Netanyahu seems willing to give Peretz his portfolio, Netanyahu wants to give the Justice Ministry to Likudnik Yariv Levin. This won’t do for Smotrich, who sees the Justice Ministry as a way to serve his right-wing constituency in the settlements. Instead, Likud is offering Smotrich the internal security portfolio, a position he has so far rejected because it doesn’t help him advance his political goals.