coalition negotiations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and then-Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman attend the opening ceremony of the Bahadim IDF Training Bases City in southern Israel, November 15, 2016. (Haim Bornstein/Pool)

Liberman claims Likud members approached him about coalition without Netanyahu

Four days before PM’s coalition deadline, his party denies any such overture; Yisrael Beytenu chief also slams Netanyahu for giving more to the ultra-Orthodox than any past leader

May 24, 2019, 6:55 pm

Liberman claims Likud members approached him about coalition without Netanyahu

Four days before PM’s coalition deadline, his party denies any such overture; Yisrael Beytenu chief also slams Netanyahu for giving more to the ultra-Orthodox than any past leader

By TOI staff

Then-Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (R) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit the IDF's West Bank Division, near the Israeli settlement of Beit El, on January 10, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 23, 2019, 8:27 am

Yisrael Beytenu said poised to join coalition, Liberman to return to defense job

Despite party’s reported understandings with LIkud, gaps remain on ultra-Orthodox conscription bill and other issues

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman in the Knesset, on October 24, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2019, 7:40 pm

Netanyahu and Liberman meet for coalition talks as deadline looms

Likud holding negotiations with several parties as it looks to secure government agreement before May 28 cutoff

By TOI staff

Ushers, at left, escort MK Mickey Levy (Blue and White) out of a Knesset committee debate on a bill to remove limits on the number of cabinet ministers that can be appointed by a government, May 21, 2019. (Knesset Spokesperson's Office)

May 22, 2019, 10:33 am

Knesset meeting on lifting limits on ministers turns angry, sees walkout

Netanyahu needs restrictions removed to offer more posts to coalition partners ahead of May 28 deadline; measure passed in 2013 as good-government reform has never been enforced

By TOI staff

Members of the Likud and United Torah Judaism parties hold coalition negotiations at the Knesset on May 20, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 21, 2019, 9:30 am

Likud said working with ultra-Orthodox on new enlistment bill to entice Liberman

Legislation would reportedly task government with setting conscription quotas; Yisrael Beytenu chief has said he won’t join coalition if current version of proposed law is changed

By TOI staff

The Knesset plenary hall during the swearing-in ceremony of Knesset members as a new session opens following the elections, on April 30, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

May 20, 2019, 10:59 pm

MKs advance bill to expand cabinet, giving Netanyahu more coalition leeway

Divisive measure would cancel 2014 law limiting the cabinet to 18 ministers; PM expected to hand out 26-28 portfolios to members of his new government

By Raoul Wootliff

Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz speaks during a party faction meeting at the Knesset, on May 20, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 20, 2019, 5:15 pm

Gantz derides Netanyahu’s bid to expand cabinet as ‘political bribery’

Blue and White leader also urges PM to ‘be a man’ and drop legislation that would shield him from prosecution, calls on public to take to the streets in protest

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on March 11, 2018. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/Flash90)

May 20, 2019, 4:51 pm

Price of expanding cabinet: Up to NIS 300m just in expenses and bureaucracy

Measure would cancel 2014 law limiting the cabinet to 18 ministers; PM expected to hand out 26-28 portfolios to members of his new government

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at an event marking one year since the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, on May 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 20, 2019, 4:50 pm

Poll finds 56% of Israelis oppose Netanyahu immunity bill

Other than Likud voters, majority of public think PM should step down if indicted

By TOI staff

Likud MK Sharren Haskel (L) and Jewish Home MK Bezalel Smotrich speak at a conference in Jerusalem on May 27, 2018. (Gershon Elinson/ Flash90)

May 19, 2019, 11:59 pm

3rd Likud MK speaks out against Netanyahu immunity bill, says it will hurt party

Sharren Haskel suggests far-right MK Smotrich may be deliberately pushing legislation to shield PM from prosecution because it will damage Likud politically

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) listens to Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on May 19, 2019. (Ariel Schalit / various sources / AFP)

May 19, 2019, 4:54 pm

Ministers okay expanding cabinet as Netanyahu bemoans coalition talks impasse

Measure would cancel 2013 law limiting the cabinet to 18 ministers; PM expected to hand out 26-28 portfolios to members of his new government

By Raoul Wootliff

Yisrael Beitenu chairman Avigdor Liberman speaks in the Knesset on May 13, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

May 18, 2019, 9:20 pm

Liberman hints entry into coalition won’t be conditioned on harsher Gaza policy

Yisrael Beytenu head, who quit as DM over Gaza issue, criticizes government’s response to violence from Hamas-run enclave, but indicates it’s not a subject for coalition dealing

By TOI staff

Blue and White MK Gadi Yevarkan. (YouTube screenshot)

May 18, 2019, 6:17 am

Likud tries to tempt Blue and White MK to jump ship, join coalition — report

With coalition talks faltering, officials reportedly offer Gadi Yevarkan immigration and absorption portfolio to try to convince freshman lawmaker to join their party; he refuses

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud member Yariv Levin are seen during a faction meeting at the Knesset on December 9, 2013. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 17, 2019, 6:56 pm

Likud says immunity for Netanyahu won’t be a part of coalition deals

But PM still expected to push ahead with some sort of legislation after he puts together a government

By TOI staff

May 16, 2019, 9:50 am

Amid coalition talks impasse, Netanyahu said looking at non-majority government

Likud party sources reportedly claim PM considering coalition without Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu by fielding just 60 of the Knesset’s 120 MKs — but Kahlon opposes the idea

By Raoul Wootliff