Coalition talks were expected to resume Thursday but the process, which appeared to be on track, was thrown for a loop just before Independence Day, as the Health portfolio, previously earmarked for the Ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, was again up for grabs.
Lacking the political "luster" of the Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance portfolios, the allocation of the Health Ministry, though a major office, is not usually one to throw a wrench in wheels of coalition talks.
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Under the coalition deal inked between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, Likud and Blue and White rotate the Defense and Foreign Affairs portfolios.
Blue and White will control the Justice, Immigration and Absorption, Culture and Sports, Communications, Agriculture, Strategic Affairs, Tourism, Social Equality, and Diaspora Affairs portfolios, while partner Labor will receive the Economy and Welfare portfolios.
Likud will receive the Finance, Public Security, Transportation, Housing, Education, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Jerusalem Affairs portfolios.
Ultra-Orthodox Likud partners United Torah Judaism and Shas were meant to control the Health and Interior portfolios respectively, but last week UTJ head Yakov Litzman asked Netanyahu to be appointed construction and housing minister in the next government.
As under the coalition deal the Health portfolio is part of Likud portfolios' parcel, it has the option of naming a Likud lawmaker to the post, offering it to another of its collation partners or giving it to Blue and White in exchange for one of its portfolios.
One of the possibilities floated over the past week has been offering the Health portfolio to Yamina leader Naftali Bennett.
Currently, the defense minister, Bennett has been praised for his ministry's dealing with the public health crisis. Moreover, this move could resolve a political dilemma for Netanyahu, who has been locking horns with Yamina over the fact that so far, the national-religious faction has not been offered any senior position in the coalition.
Likud insiders told Israel Hayom the party was waiting to see what Blue and White offers for the Health Ministry.
"Blue and white want the Health portfolio, the question is – will they know how to match it's value," one Likud official explained
"The issue of proper value is a good question. These days, the Health portfolio is just as important as the foreign affairs portfolio, or perhaps also the Economy portfolio and another 'minor' portfolio. Maybe a combination of several 'minor' ones."
The division of ministries "was set" until UTJ's move, he admitted.
The Knesset is scheduled to hold a special session on Sunday to vote on the rotation agreement between Netanyahu and Gantz. This will be the bill's first of three readings and it is expected to pass.
Blue and White MK Eitan Ginzburg, who heads the special parliamentary committee formulating the amendment to Basic Law: The Government, warned that if work on the bill won't be completed by midnight of May 7, the final date set by President Reuven Rivlin for the formation of a new government, "The Knesset will dissolve and a fourth election will be called."
Also on Sunday, the High Court of Justice was set to hear seven petitions filed against the unity deal. The petitions seek to prevent Netanyahu, who is facing criminal indictments in three corruption cases, from forming a government.
Chief Justice Esther Hayut has ordered that an extended, 11-justice panel hear the petitions.
This will be the first time the High Court weighs in on the matter as it constitutes an intervention in the voting public's decision.
A senior Likud official told Israel Hayom that "intervention by the High Court of Justice is the greatest threat to the establishment of a unity government. The unity deal is based on a very delicate balance. The court's intervention will upset that and cause the entire outline to fall apart. If the High Court does not intervene, a government will be formed."
