Opposition MKs succeeded in delaying the swearing in of new Vice Premier Shaul
Mofaz on Wednesday by revealing a technical error made by Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu.
National Union MK Uri Ariel wrote Knesset Speaker
Reuven Rivlin that the law required Netanyahu to submit all agreements with
Kadima 24 hours ahead of approving a new coalition agreement. He noted that
Kadima MKs had told the press that Netanyahu had promised Kadima portfolios at a
later juncture.
When Ariel asked Netanyahu if there was a verbal appendix
to the coalition agreement that had not been submitted to the Knesset, the prime
minister at first appeared to try to avoid answering the question.
“This
is the only signed agreement,” Netanyahu said. “We spoke about some things that
were not finalized. There are things that are still open and that we will still
talk about, and things that are conditioned on other things.”
When Rivlin
informed Netanyahu that any verbal agreement must also be submitted. He asked
for a 10 minute recess that ended up lasting an hour. When the session resumed,
Netanyahu said he took time because he wanted to handle everything
legally.
“In the midst of the negotiations, there were talks about
possible future events but they did not lead to an agreement,” Netanyahu said.
“Anything that develops into an agreement in the future will be reported here.
There is a possibility that additional ministers will be appointed in the future
but there is no agreement on that yet.”
Kadima sources said Netanyahu was
referring to the possibility that Kadima MKs would be appointed to replace two
ministers who will quit politics soon: Homeland Security Minister Matan Vilna’i
(Independence) and Minister-without-Portfolio Yossi Peled (Likud).
There
is also a possibility that Israel Beiteinu or Shas could leave the coalition due
to future disputes on controversial subjects and that its portfolios could be
given to Kadima.
Ariel accepted Netanyahu’s explanation and wished him
well.
But other opposition MKs vowed to remain vigilant and ensure that
Netanyahu does not use his widened coalition for any problematic future
maneuvers.
“We proved a little opposition can accomplish big things,”
said Labor faction chairman Isaac Herzog.
“This coalition started in sin
and it will end in sin.”