MK Akunis: Likud accepts Yesh Atid’s ultra-Orthadox draft plan

Likud MK close to Netanyahu says the  Haredim won’t be part of next coalition gov’t & Foreign Ministry portfolio is reserved for Liberman.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Likud Beytenu accepted Yesh Atid’s plan for haredi draft into civil service, according to Likud MK Ofir Akunis, who is close to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

MK Ofir Akunis (Likud)

MK Ofir Akunis (Likud) – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

“Regarding equality in the national burden, there’s definitely an agreement. We accepted the Yesh Atid plan, and unfortunately it appears like the haredim will not be a part of the next government,” Akunis told Channel 10.

A Yesh Atid source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that Likud Beytenu’s negotiating team accepted the detailed plan for haredi enlistment, which would require them to join the IDF or national service at age 18, following a five-year period in which the ultra-Orthodox would be encouraged to join the workforce.

Akunis also confirmed previous reports that Netanyahu intends to hold the Foreign Ministry portfolio for Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.

Yair Lapid“The Likud was very fair and offered Lapid one of the senior portfolios – the Finance Ministry. Because of the massive deficit, the challenge is greater, and I’m certain that many Likud MKs would willingly take this portfolio,” Akunis said.

Yesh Atid MK Yael German, however, told Army Radio on Friday morning that Lapid was not offered the Finance Ministry at all.

“This is another spin,” German said. “They never offered Yair Lapid the Finance portfolio, he heard about the offer on the radio.”

Regarding the number of portfolios, Akunis said it is still unclear how many portfolios the new government would have, but that it would be between 18-28.

 

Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.

View original Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=305746