Right-wing bloc negotiation teams are scheduled to meet on Sunday to continue the coalition talks that have been at an impasse due to disagreements over the role of defense minister.
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The role is sought after by Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich, who, according to reports, has been denied his request. Likud officials said that Smotrich will not be appointed defense minister, even at the expense of another election.
Smotrich, on his part, said a plan B would be the finance portfolio, which is what Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party leader Aryeh Deri also seeks.
According to reports, the Likud has asked Deri and Smotrich to resolve the matter between themselves, but the Religious Zionist Party rejected the idea, saying that the matter has to be resolved by Netanyahu himself.
Officials involved in the matter said that the most likely outcome is Deri backing down from the role of finance minister in exchange for a compensation package of some sort. This could include the position of deputy prime minister, which would make Deri a senior partner in the coalition as well as interior and religious affairs portfolios.
Earlier, Smotrich canceled a trip to the United States to meet with Jewish officials in order to finalize the coalition negotiations. He reportedly once again appealed to the Likud to hold a coalition "marathon" with the participation of all bloc leaders to come to an understanding and form a government as soon as possible.
The Religious Zionist Party criticized Netanyahu for withholding from Smotrich the position of defense minister, saying that it was "strange" that in the past, he appointed Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett to the role, even though "they had much fewer mandates" than the Religious Zionist Party won in the latest election.
Netanyahu "vetoes Smotrich who heads a list that received 14 seats and over half a million votes and who wants a true right-wing policy in security," the party said.
Reports also indicate that Smotrich is refusing to back down from his demand, having even turned down an offer of foreign minister.
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