Likud: Blue and White gave in on dispute in coalition

Netanyahu wants to open the coalition deal to ensure that he would remain prime minister if elections are held.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz arrive at the Knesset plenum to vote on four no confidence votes against the government (photo credit: KNESSET PRESS SERVICE/ADINA VALMAN)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz arrive at the Knesset plenum to vote on four no confidence votes against the government
(photo credit: KNESSET PRESS SERVICE/ADINA VALMAN)
The controversial expanded Norwegian Law is expected  to pass into law on Monday night after a dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz's parties was resolved.
Blue and White accepted Netanyahu's request to open the coalition agreement and pass a new bill next week.
The bill would ensure that Netanyahu would remain prime minister if elections are called after a Supreme Court decision to prevent him from serving as alternate prime minister when Gantz would become prime minister in November 2021.
Currently the coalition deal enables Netanyahu to be prime minister in a caretaker government if elections are held within the government's first six months, and Gantz would be caretaker prime minister if elections are held after that.
But Netanyahu is concerned that the Supreme Court decision will only rule in fall 2021 when the question will become relevant.
In order to pressure Gantz to reopen the deal, the Likud refused to allow a vote on Monday on the final readings of the expanded Norwegian Law. 
The law would enable ministers and deputy ministers to quit the Knesset and be replaced by the next candidates on their party's list. The ministers and deputies could return to the Knesset if they quit their posts.
Blue and White desperately wants to pass the bill, because 12 of their 15 MKs are ministers and the party does not have enough MKs to do parliamentary work in the Knesset.
The head of the House Committee, Blue and White faction chairman Eitan Ginzburg, said Monday that he could use a special clause called Clause 98 to force a vote on the bill.
The vote is currently set for 9pm Monday night.