Government moves toward biennial budget

In their first meeting in months, Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday that he will not join his government under any circumstances, amid speculation that Netanyahu would pursue additional coalition partners to boost his wafer-thin 61-59 Knesset majority.

The heated 40-minute discussion came on the heels of a Knesset motion approving the first reading on instating a biennial state budget, to be ratified within 175 days of the formation of the government.

The motion, which passed 57-55, would change the budget from an annual one to biennial and increase the time frame the government has to authorize a budget — 175, up from 100 days.

Lapid fumed at what he dubbed Netanyahu’s “clearance sale” to the ultra-Orthodox parties, and told the prime minister that he was disappointed with a range of proposed changes that would see his work and education reforms in the Haredi community scrapped.

Following the encounter, Lapid took to social media, telling followers on Twitter that “at least I was the only person who spoke today with the prime minister and demanded not to be appointed minister.”

A very public spat between the duo in December 2014 saw Lapid fired from his post as finance minister along with then-justice minister Tzipi Livni of the Hatnua party, in a move that dissolved Netanyahu’s coalition and brought on new elections.

A series of political changes this week left the cabinet abuzz, as a reshuffle saw Likud no. 2 Gilad Erdan join the government after a post-election tiff with Netanyahu.

Erdan was appointed public security minister and strategic affairs minister Monday, in a move that riled ministers whose offices were curtailed in order to make way for the aspiring politician — who some analysts believe may harbor hopes for the premiership, post-Netanyahu.

On Tuesday, Erdan sought to deflect the attention he has been receiving over his late cabinet assignment — his position was finalized over a week after Netanyahu’s presented his cabinet — saying, “I dont think i’m the focus [here]. I wasn’t particularly happy yesterday, and I wasn’t particularly upset when I wasn’t a minister [during the past two weeks],” he told Israel Radio.

“Getting to work is the main thing now. Yes, it was an unpleasant situation for me and for the prime minister, who had to juggle the demands of our coalition partners as well as the Likud’s inner circle, where every person jostles for influence,” he said. “Every minister will be judged according to his actions.”