Israel's PM invites hawkish lawmaker to "urgent" coalition talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Wednesday the hawkish leader of Israel Our Home party, Avigdor Lieberman, to an "urgent" meeting in an effort to enlarge his narrow government, local media reported.

The move was perceived as another attempt by Netanyahu to augment his narrow coalition, which comprises 61 members in Israel's 120-member parliament.

The announcement on the meeting was released shortly after Lieberman held a press conference in the Knesset (parliament), daring Netanyahu to engage in serious talks after days of rumors about such talks.

Lieberman said he will "consider" joining the coalition if Netanyahu will give him the defense portfolio and agree to a new law that will allow a death penalty to Palestinian attackers.

The invitation was extended amidst intensive talks between Netanyahu and Israel's opposition leader and chairman of the Zionist Union, Isaac Herzog, on a unity government between the left-centrist Zionist Union and Netanyahu's right-wing Likud.

Less than two hours after the announcement of Netanyahu's meeting with Lieberman, Herzog convened a televised press conference in Jerusalem, in which he said he is suspending the talks on a unity government. In an aggressive live statement, Herzog said no unity negations will be held if Netanyahu is talking about a deal also with Lieberman's ultra-nationalist party.

"Netanyahu should choose between more wars and funerals and peace and prosperity," said Herzog. "If he wants to bring Lieberman into the government, then let him do it. We will take them apart from the opposition," he said.

Addressing Tuesday's statements by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on the necessity of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Herzog said that "the chance to make the most of this chance is now in Netanyahu's hands."

The Zionist Union was formed ahead of the 2015 general election by unity pact of the Labor and the center party of Ha'tnua.

Lawmakers with the Labor were skeptical that Netanyahu will allow any real peace negotiations with the Palestinians and put heavy pressures on Herzog not join the coalition.

Al-Sisi said on Tuesday there is a "real chance" to establish true peace between Israel and the Palestinians if the sides respond to Arab and international peacemaking efforts.

He had referred to a Saudi-led Arab peace initiative in 2002 which urged Israel to fully withdraw from the Palestinian territories that Israel had occupied in the 1967 Mideast War in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in exchange for normalizing Israel's ties with Arab countries.

The Egyptian president also said his country is "willing to play a mediating role between the Palestinians and Israel", promising ties between Israel and Egypt will become warmer following the resumption of peace talks between the parties. Endit