The prime minister's efforts to widen his coalition are leading to growing tension between the prime minister and his foreign minister.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said he will only agree to an expansion of the government, if construction in the settlements resumes in September, at the end of the one year freeze agreed by the government. Labor leaders have said that unless Kadima joins the government by then, Labor may not continue in the government.
Opposition leader Tzippi Livni said she would be
willing to
join the governing coalition if it is accompanied by a change in the
coalition structure. It is believed that Livni is interested in taking
the foreign ministry position from Lieberman.
Lieberman will only accept inclusion of Kadima in a coalition if
that party
agrees to his
peace formula, which involves combining population exchanges with
territorial exchanges.
Lieberman and Netanyahu are currently unable to agree on a replacement
for Israel's UN ambassador. The current ambassador, Professor Gabriella Shalev, is leaving her post at the end of July.