Vice Premier, and favorite to become next Defense minister, denounced Staurday night Naftali Bennett'sd attempt to force netanayhu leaving the Haredim out of the coalition. Such a move would force Netanyahu to form a less broader coalition, or seek alliances with the parties on the left.
“Equality in the burden [of national
service] is what unites Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi against the haredim? That
sounds totally strange,” Ya’alon told Dana Weiss on Israel's Channel 2 'Meet the Press' program. “They have a treaty that does
not reflect their basic interests.”
“Bayit Yehudi is the only party, as
far as I know, to get a serious offer [in coalition talks],” Ya’alon said, in
reference to Likud Beitenu offering Bayit Yehudi four portfolios, including
Education and a deputy defense minister, last week.
“If, in the end, Bayit Yehudi is out of the coalition despite
all we offered them, who will really have paid a political price?” he
asked.
“There can’t be talks where people say ‘we just don’t want
haredim,’” he said. “Likud Beytenu doesn’t leave anyone out.”