Netanyahu presents outline for new unity government
PM presents new five-point outline for establishment of unity government alongside Blue and White and right-wing bloc; Blue and White reject proposal, labeling it a spin
"This government will be based on a broad national consensus to enable it to address the pressing security and economic challenges that are rising around us," said Netanyahu. "All parties will need to make some concessions to reach a consensus".
Netanyahu also said that he had called Gantz and personally presented his proposal to the former IDF chief.
"I presented to him a compromise for the establishment of a broad national unity government," said the prime minister. "This is the only government that can be formed now, it is the only government that must be formed now".
"The citizens of Israel look around and see how the Middle East is changing for the worse right before our eyes. Those who need to know, know that the security challenges are growing, and they are not waiting for us".
"That is why I call on Gantz to show national responsibility and to enter immediate negotiations with me, to establish the government that the State of Israel so desperately needs. Any unnecessary delay will take us back to the same point in about two months, with all the implications that accompany it".
The prime minister's new unity government outline, which was formulated by Netanyahu and his close staff in recent days, consists of 5 main points:
1. Security: The State Security Cabinet will decide within six weeks on an updated perennial security plan, including a decision to immediately pass the first year's security budget, even before the state budget is passed.
2. Economy: The government will approve a fiscal deficit target and change budgetary priorities considering the urgent security needs. The state budget will be passed no later than three months from the date of establishment of the government.
3. Social: The government will formally agree on essential social needs that will be funded by the state budget.
4. Religion-state relations: The status quo will be maintained for the first year. A special team will be formed alongside the government and will discuss issues regarding religion-state relations.
5. Political: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz will present a shared position on U.S. President Donald Trump's "Plan of the Century" after it is published and in relation to the application of Israeli sovereignty on the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea.
Blue and White officials responded to Netanyahu's proposal, labeling it a spin to deflect any criticism in case Israel goes into another election cycle.
"Netanyahu is already neck-deep in the next elections," said the officials. "Netanyahu is trying to shift the blame for the elections that we're going into only because of him".
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz also rejected Netanyahu's proposal and claimed Netanyahu is unwilling to negotiate.
"Unfortunately, the prime minister's recent conduct indicates that his path is not a path of unity, but of immunity," said Gantz. "Even today, he is unwilling to negotiate directly and recognize the fact that most Israeli citizens have elected a liberal unity government, without the extremists (referring to Netanyahu's right-wing bloc featuring the ultra-Orthodox and nationalist parties)".
