Bennett: PM has to decide if he wants Yamina in coalition

Outgoing Defense Minister Naftali Bennett of the Yamina party says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has to “decide if he wants us in the coalition; the ball is in his court.”

Bennett tells Channel 13 the party will honor the unity agreement between Likud and Blue and White and will serve in the government under alternate prime minister Benny Gantz.

Under the terms of the deal struck this week, which ends over a year of political deadlock during which Israel has not had a permanent government, Gantz will become prime minister in 18 months. Until then, he will serve as defense minister and have veto power over most legislative and policy matters.

Bennett says he wants his party in the coalition in a “position of influence” and indicates that should that not happen, the party will stay out of the government.