Netanyahu Plays Haredi Card as Talks Stall
Image by getty images
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened on Wednesday to open lightning-round negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties following the aggressive stance taken by Yesh Atid’s leader Yair Lapid.
“If there isn’t a breakthrough with Lapid in the coming hours, and he doesn’t back down from his exaggerated demands, the prime minister will began lightning talks with the Haredi parties,” the Likud party said in a statement.
Sources close to the negotiations stated that Lapid backtracked Wednesday morning from a number of understandings that had been previously reached, and at the same time has refused to show any flexibility regarding the long list of topics being discussed by the negotiation teams.
“It’s still too early to label the talks a failure, but there’s no doubt that Lapid’s negotiation team is letting us down with the tack they are taking,” said a Likud source involved in the negotiations.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
