Shaked Says She’ll Sit in a Netanyahu-Led Government

By Yisrael Price

YERUSHALAYIM — Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) said on Wednesday that she would be willing to sit in a government lead by Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu within the current Knesset makeup, thereby increasing the possibility of averting elections, Ynet reported.

However, for Shaked to do so would entail first resigning as minister in order to return to the Knesset as an MK.

Meanwhile, her ministerial colleagues, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, both said reiterated that they will not join a Netanyahu-led government.

Efforts on Wednesday by the opposition to assemble a majority of 61 MKs before dissolution of the Knesset were unsuccessful, according to media reports.

Rebel Yamina MK Nir Orbach was reportedly working to delay dispersion by refraining from convening the House Committee, in a bid to give the opposition more time to form an alternative government. The coalition was looking at routes to get around Orbach.

Orbach said that while the majority of Yamina supports the formation of a new government within the current Knesset, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s position was unclear.

“As for Bennett, I do not know if he will join such a government,” said Orbach.

The Knesset passed the initial bill to dissolve the Knesset on Wednesday, by a margin of 110-0.

The bill will face its second and third plenum readings next week, where it is expected to pass as well.