‘Coalition hints to Zionist Union there’s room’

The new government will be sworn in next Wednesday in the Knesset.

In the beginning of the week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss the allocation of portfolios among Likud members. Israeli law mandates that the prime minister must present his government within a week of announcing to the president that he successfully established a coalition.

Coalition sources are examining a possibility of bringing to the Knesset plenum a bill to modify Basic Law: Government as early as this Monday, so as to legislate the possibility of naming more than 18 ministers and four deputy ministers.

According to an Israel Radio political analyst, the move aims to signal to future potential partners – like Zionist Union – that the government would welcome a larger majority by expanding the coalition.