Unity talks hung up on a division of Jerusalem

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Opposition head MK Yitzhak Herzog (Zionist Union) are continuing their talks to bring Herzog’s leftist party into the coalition, but as of Wednesday morning there have yet to be any breakthroughs on a unity government.

 

The core sticking point between the sides remains the diplomatic policies that a joint government would pursue.

 

Netanyahu refuses to allow Herzog to advance his “separation plan” from the Palestinians, which among other things involves cutting off Arab neighborhoods such as Isawiya from the Jerusalem municipality and transferring them to Palestinian Authority (PA) control in a unilateral division of the capital.

 

Herzog has long touted his idea of dividing the capital and making massive concessions, but ironically Netanyahu and his governments have also been accused of enforcing a quiet de facto division of the 3,000-year-old capital of the Jewish people.

 

Aside from the “separation plan,” it appears that Netanyahu is reluctant to give Herzog a free hand in holding peace talks by himself or making announcements about a reduction of construction in Judea and Samaria.

 

Read More: Unity talks hung up on a division of Jerusalem – Inside Israel – News – Arutz Sheva