Mere days after finalization of the coalition deal between Likud and Blue and White, it appears that Blue and White's quickest and easiest win was removing Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. The reason: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu never voiced any objections.
Israel Hayom has learned from sources familiar with the political talks that Blue and White officials were stunned over how easily they succeeded in their task.
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"Edelstein's removal from the position of Knesset Speaker was Blue and White's swiftest achievement in the negotiations," one source familiar with the details said.
Another official privy to the details of the coalition talks said Netanyahu "conceded [the issue of] Yuli Edelstein in a matter of seconds" and that their relationship had been strained recently.
"The sense was that Blue and White's request to dismiss [Edelstein] was suitable to Netanyahu, which is why he didn't fight for his seat," another official said.
Officials close to the prime minister, on the other hand, said Netanyahu still hasn't begun dealing with the "headache" of distributing ministerial portfolios to Likud MKs but was dealing with one issue – trying to secure Edelstein's position as Knesset speaker – despite the agreement with Blue and White to remove him as a candidate.
Netanyahu's aides said the prime minister was making an effort to secure the appointment, but officials in Edelstein's circle said Netanyahu was simply paying lip service without really intending to put up a flight on the matter.
"The prime minister isn't dealing with any appointments for [Likud] officials for the time being, but he is trying to work on behalf of Edlestein's appointment," an official close to Netanyahu said.
According to officials in Netanyahu's circle, the prime minister very much appreciates Edelstein's efforts, which they say haven't gone unnoticed. However, they doubted the prime minister would be able to secure his appointment because Blue and White has already issued an official statement referring to Edelstein's removal as one of its more significant achievements.
In any case, Edlestein's aides argue that if Netanyahu tells Blue and White he is having "trouble at home" in terms of portfolio distribution, Blue and White won't raise too much objection to Edelstein's appointment. In their view, resistance to Edelstein has already waned in Blue and White, particularly in light of the fact that Likud's other candidate, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, is viewed as even more hawkish than Edlestein toward the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu held coalition talks with Yamina leader Naftali Bennett in a video call on Wednesday in what officials described as a positive atmosphere.
The discussion between the two followed a long period of tension and sense in Yamina that Netanyahu doesn't want to bring the party into the new coalition. Sources apprised of the details of the discussion said it largely focused ideological worldviews, which were not significantly far apart.
Although representatives from both sides confirmed the meeting went well, Yamina officials were still weighing the party's next steps and have yet to decide on joining the government. Party officials rejected reports that infighting over portfolios was delaying the decision to join. Likud officials said the prime minister wasn't playing games and truly wants Yamina in the next coalition.
Netanyahu is offering Yamina the Ministry of Construction and Housing for a year and a half and the Foreign Ministry for the other year and a half, along with another minor portfolio for the entirety of the three-year term.
In Yamina itself, however, officials were less than thrilled over Netanyahu's offer. The party wants to make a difference but believes that after surrendering the justice, defense and economy ministries, it doesn't have many options. Party officials believe that after Neyanyahu realizes he won't be able to divide them, his offers will look a little different.
