Why is Netanyahu offering the Foreign Affairs portfolio to the opposition?
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: JUNE 18, 2017 11:11Netanyahu and Livni(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered MK Tzipi Livni the Foreign Affairs portfolio, political sources said on Saturday night, confirming an exclusive report by Channel 10 political correspondent Sefi Ovadia.Netanyahu tried to bring Livni into his government in order to bolster his efforts to restart negotiations with the Palestinians, under the auspices of US President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt. Netanyahu has been holding the portfolio since his government was formed, hoping that opposition leader Isaac Herzog would join, but talks with the Zionist Union chairman did not bear fruit.Livni’s associates said she rejected the offer because she believes he is not planning on taking enough steps to advance a diplomatic process with the Palestinians in a serious manner.“She got the impression that what Netanyahu is doing is nothing but hot air,” a Livni associate said. “She is not interested in joining for nothing.”Livni has explored an opportunity to join the United Nations as an assistant secretary-general. She is also pushing for open primaries to lead the Center-Left in the next general election.None of the candidates in the current Labor leadership race has said they are willing to join Netanyahu’s government, though Netanyahu has not given up hope on Herzog joining if he wins the July 4 race.
