Likud forming unity government with Kadima
Since we've got Iran to worry about, this surprise turn of events is actually a very good thing:
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Shaul Mofaz approved a last-minute deal overnight Monday to form a national unity government that would postpone early elections.Coming after Livni resigned from the Knesset, the time for their joining couldn't be better. Without her, the Likud are guaranteed a much better coalition partner. And with Iran threatening the middle east and the rest of the globe, that's why a wider coalition is a must.
The Likud and Kadima factions began emergency meetings after 2:00 a.m. to discuss developments, eventually approving the deal that will bring Netanyahu's government more political stability.
"We got important things," a Mofaz associate said. "If we wanted portfolios, we would have gotten them."
The deal passed unanimously in the Kadima faction.
Netanyahu - who arrived at the Likud meeting along with his former chief of staff Natan Eshel - told the Likud faction that contact with Mofaz over forming a unity government began a few days ago and bore fruit. Eshel apparently played a role in brokering the deal.
The agreement stipulates that Kadima will not topple the government until the official end of its term on October 22, 2013. Mofaz - who replaced Tzipi Livni just last month as the Kadima party head - will also become vice premier, and will fill in for the prime minister when he is abroad. Kadima's inclusion will bring the coalition to 94 seats.
Labels: iran, Israel, jihad, Knesset, war on terror
