TV: Delay in swearing in government ‘less a drama, more a farce’

The delay in swearing in the government is “less a drama, and more a farce,” says Channel 12’s political commentator Amit Segal.

It has been caused by a “rebellion” among some Likud members, unhappy at the jobs they’re being offered by Netanyahu, or not offered in the new coalition.

Two senior Likud MKs, Avi Dichter and Tzachi Hanegbi, for instance, have said they’ll boycott the swearing-in ceremony because they’ve not been offered ministerial posts. Nir Barkat and David Amsalem have also been left without ministerial posts as things stand, to their reported deep dismay.

Miri Regev and Gila Gamliel, who have been offered ministries (transportation and higher education, respectively), are both reportedly unhappy too.

The elevation of the relatively junior Likud MK (and current acting justice minister) Amir Ohana, to minister of public security, is reportedly particularly infuriating to the more senior Hanegbi and Dichter.

Gantz is none too happy with the delay, Channel 12 says, in part because it could give Netanyahu and the Yamina party a few more days to perhaps rebuild relations — though this seems unlikely.

Segal stresses that Gantz would not have agreed to the postponement to Sunday if he thought Netanyahu was up to something sneaky. But Segal’s colleague in the studio, Rina Mazliach, says “Gantz really had no choice” but to accept the postponement, “since he has no leverage” over Netanyahu.

Netanyahu and Gantz have until next Thursday to swear in their government; if not, Israel heads to elections.