Report: Netanyahu Offers ‘Compensation’ to Smotrich in Lieu of Finance or Defense

The Likud party has sent Religious Zionism leader MK Betzalel Smotrich a new offer, in an attempt to convince him to forgo the Finance and Defense Ministries, according to a report by Channel 12.

Smotrich has demanded to be appointed either Defense Minister or Finance Minister. The U.S. is pressuring Netanyahu not to grant Smotrich the Defense Ministry, but Netanyahu has already offered the Finance Ministry to Shas chairman MK Rabbi Aryeh Deri, and he has accepted the offer.

According to the report, the most recent offer, to which Smotrich has not yet responded, includes a “compensation package” that would be his if he agreed to give up on those ministries.

The package includes three portfolios, the most senior of which could be the Justice or Education Ministry, or any other ministry which is not Finance or Defense.

In addition, the Likud’s offer includes the additional position of a minister in the Defense Ministry, which would include responsibilities that Smotrich is demanding in Yehudah and Shomron, as well as a smaller portfolio.

Meanwhile, Smotrich has canceled a planned trip to New York, where he was scheduled to attend the Chabad shluchim conference, in order to remain in Israel and continue the coalition negotiations, he announced on Motzoei Shabbos.