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Last update - 10:50 08/03/2009
Netanyahu, Yisrael Beiteinu strike deal, Lieberman to get Foreign Ministry
By Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Avigdor Lieberman 

Coalition talks between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu are nearing completion, and it now seems that Avigdor Lieberman's party will get all the cabinet portfolios he is demanding from Benjamin Netanyahu: Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Tourism, National Infrastructures and Justice, which it is reserved for the incumbent minister, Daniel Friedmann.

It seems, however, that Uzi Landau will not be returning to the Public Security Ministry, where he served under Ariel Sharon from 2001 to 2003. Instead, that portfolio will be given to former deputy police chief, MK Yitzhak Aharonovitch, since Yisrael Beiteinu leaders apparently decided that handing the job to a former top police officer would look better in the eyes of the public and would limit criticism of the decision to hand the position to a lawmaker from a party whose leader is under investigation by the police.

MKs Stas Misezhnikov and Uzi Landau will be given the Infrastructure and Tourism ministries, although it has still not been decided who will get which position.
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The most controversial decision that Netanyahu has made vis-a-vis Yisrael Beiteinu is his capitulation to the demand that Friedmann remain justice minister. "That's the way it works when Bibi needs Yvet more than Yvet needs Bibi," one source close to the coalition negotiations told Haaretz over the weekend, referring to Netanyahu and Liebermann by their nicknames. "Even if Ehud Barak were to join the coalition, Bibi would only be able to rely on the support of six Labor lawmakers; with Yvet, he gets all 15."

Agreeing to all of Lieberman's demands is also the price that Netanyahu must pay for his decision not to include the National Union in his coalition - a decision that leaves him with a coalition of just 61 MKs. Despite the efforts of his closest advisers to warn him off forming such a narrow coalition, Netanyahu is concerned that his government will be seen as too extremist if it includes Kahane supporters from the ranks of the National Union. In addition, he cannot meet their coalition demands.

"If he agrees to authorize the settlements that the National Union has requested, he will do irreparable damage to his relationship with the State Department," another source involved in the coalition negotiations said. "Under these circumstances, it's clearly in Netanyahu's best interests to agree to Lieberman's demands."

In addition to Yisrael Beiteinu's ministerial demands, Netanyahu has also agreed to the party's other conditions for joining the Likud-led government. These include the drafting of bills that are close to Yisrael Beiteinu's ultimate goal of legislating a clear line between religion and the state.

While there will be no clause requiring Israeli Arabs to take an oath of allegiance, the coalition teams are working on laws that would deny National Insurance Institute payments to the families of terrorists with Israeli citizenship. In addition, the teams are discussing legal means to halt the parliamentary pension received by former MK Azmi Bishara, who fled overseas in the face of a possible criminal investigation over alleged illegal contact with an enemy agent.

The one issue over which Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu have not yet reached agreement is the introduction of civil marriage. Legislation toward this end is aimed at enabling marriage for Israeli couples who are not Jewish according to religious law. The vast majority of these couples come from a Russian-speaking background. This is a highly sensitive issue for Netanyahu's other coalition partners - religious and ultra-Orthodox parties such as United Torah Judaism and Shas. Sources in Yisrael Beiteinu say that they will not accept a vague commitment from Likud to pass laws allowing two non-Jews to marry. The parties are continuing to seek a formula that would be palatable to the religious parties while at the same time providing Yisrael Beiteinu with an honorable way of retreating from its entrenched position.

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      1.   GREAT! 02:06  |  Axel 08/03/09
      2.   Next comes the banning of this R. wing government internationally 02:21  |  Dutch 08/03/09
      3.   Oi, vey! 02:47  |  sandra chitayat 08/03/09
      4.   Congratualtions 03:06  |  Magnus K. 08/03/09
      5.   Include the NU in the coaltion 03:57  |  Damon 08/03/09
      6.   Racist Lieberman joins cabinet, while Israelis howl over Durban 03:59  |  peacelover 08/03/09
      7.   well sandra chitchat there is good reason to stay in canada 04:16  |  uh huh 08/03/09
      8.   Dysfunctional governments 04:41  |  Nathaniel 08/03/09
      9.   Not Allowing National Union is Anti-Democratic 04:42  |  Baruch Gold 08/03/09
      10.   More Homes for Jews a Good Thing 04:43  |  Baruch Gold 08/03/09
      11.   Interesting, now we see the real face of Israel. 05:09  |  Maureen Ann 08/03/09
      12.   Relax, this government will not last 05:17  |  ManintheMiddle 08/03/09
      13.   Show me the Racism 05:26  |  Sceptic 08/03/09
      14.   Show me the Racism 05:27  |  Sceptic 08/03/09
      15.   Wow! That`s A Paper-Thin Majority 05:27  |  Jeff Northridge 08/03/09
      16.   6~ Maureen Ann. Try to be fair once ! 05:40  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      17.   To Maureen Ann (#9). Get the popcorn, sit back, relax,... 06:07  |  flyingdoc57 08/03/09
      18.   Better for Israel If Uzi Landau were FM 07:22  |  Steve 08/03/09
      19.   #11 Hi Akram Zekaria. I like your name. 07:24  |  Maureen Ann 08/03/09
      20.   Yes for the Kahanists...include them..let them 07:34  |  Russian 08/03/09
      21.   Akram Zakariya: Israel`s face is ugly 07:35  |  Akram from Ramallah 08/03/09
      22.   Well 07:46  |  rm 08/03/09
      23.   15~ Maureen Ann.I feel sorry for you,not because you like my name 08:08  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      24.   Do Not Believe Extremist Left Wing Propaganda 08:29  |  Baruch Gold 08/03/09
      25.   Canada and Europe now being stolen by Muslim buddies 08:59  |  lily 08/03/09
      26.   19~ Akram from Ramallah. Yes I remember ! 09:13  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      27.   What are you Afraid of - Being Jewish ? 09:23  |  Yehoshua 08/03/09
      28.   Good news for the Palestinians 09:27  |  Palestinian Brit 08/03/09
      29.   Akram 1 and 2. 09:30  |  Palestinian Brit 08/03/09
      30.   wrong thing to do. very sad. 09:37  |  JO 08/03/09
      31.   a bizarre, worrisome government 09:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/03/09
      32.   Yes, Baruch, a disaster. 09:47  |  Eldar 08/03/09
      33.   #23/26 Akram Zekaria. The creation of Zionist Israel... 11:14  |  Maureen Ann 08/03/09
      34.   A government FOR Israel 11:22  |  Observer 08/03/09
      35.   #32 Eldar Come on Have More Faith 11:31  |  Baruch Gold 08/03/09
      36.   Baruch, I hope... 12:18  |  Eldar 08/03/09
      37.   How low we have sunk scraping the dregs of 12:27  |  L A 08/03/09
      38.   29~ Palestinian Brit Correction ! 12:41  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      39.   When`s the first photo-Op between Clinton and Lieberman? 13:06  |  JustMe 08/03/09
      40.   They found a politician that will not be arrested outside Israel 13:32  |  Fred 08/03/09
      41.   Exactly Cipora #31!! 14:28  |  S 08/03/09
      42.   #24 Baruch Gold So you are a right wing 16:54  |  jim the mechanic 08/03/09
      43.   Ha ha ha 17:46  |  Giora Me`ir 08/03/09
      44.   Great news for the Russian mob 17:48  |  Giora Me`ir 08/03/09
      45.   Lieberman to get Foreign Ministry 17:53  |  mark21 08/03/09
      46.   Lieberman to get Foreign Ministry 18:01  |  mark21 08/03/09
      47.   to say it politely; That sucks! 18:23  |  doda 08/03/09
      48.   dangerous!!! 18:26  |  doda 08/03/09
      49.   Bibi is the king-maker of Yevet... NOTvice-versa... 18:46  |  Esther 08/03/09
      50.   Re # 1 Yah if they allow him in their country at all 18:47  |  Ines 08/03/09
      51.   One thing for certain 18:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/03/09
      52.   Re # 3 Well russians bypassing the arabs... 18:52  |  Ines 08/03/09
      53.   Racist, Rightwing,Criminal! "Israel Today!" 19:15  |  Atrick 08/03/09
      54.   Re # 2 Or...the right wing goverment may have 19:20  |  Ines 08/03/09
      55.   Re# 4 Yah Magnus...this is probably the outcome 19:32  |  Ines 08/03/09
      56.   33~Maureen Ann. I wish you extract the jealousy & hate 19:40  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      57.   Re # You are right oil and water never mix 19:55  |  Ines 08/03/09
      58.   Re# 6 Peace lover don`t generalize... 20:09  |  Ines 08/03/09
      59.   Re :# 11 This is not the real face of Israel 21:04  |  Ines 08/03/09
      60.   Re " Israel saw the real unchanging face of Palestinian 21:21  |  Ines 08/03/09
      61.   Re : Except that Bibi`s Likud should get the test 21:25  |  Ines 08/03/09
      62.   Re # 19... No, that is not right Maureen... 21:34  |  Ines 08/03/09
      63.   Re# 20 Israel is not going fascist.... 21:39  |  Ines 08/03/09
      64.   Re# 21 I`m sorry for that Akram 22:00  |  Ines 08/03/09
      65.   For Cipora # 31 22:01  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/03/09
      66.   31~Cipora. Running from reality is a self exile ! 22:07  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      67.   Eldar # 32 04:17  |  American in NY 09/03/09
      68.   64~ Ines : What can I say ?! All that you said is true ! 04:41  |  Akram Zekaria 09/03/09
      69.   WHAT A LOT OF JEREMIAHS...ALL BE BE WELL WORRY NOT. 02:33  |  Whiskey 11/03/09
      70.   For Fortuna Benmayor..Where do we go from here? 02:36  |  Whiskey 11/03/09
      71.   Dear Akram Zekaria...A cry From The Heart Indeed. 02:44  |  Whiskey 11/03/09
      72.   Haaretz Put out my posts late tho`i arrived.WITH BARUCH GOLD..AND 03:01  |  Whiskey 11/03/09
      73.   Whiskey Thank you and thanks to Haaretz for putting your posts 00:08  |  Akram Zekaria 05/04/09
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