Israel's Golan offers ultra-Orthodox parties conditional partnership
Golan wants Haredi men drafted into the military and said his offer to join a coalition is not unconditional.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan said on Saturday he is willing to team up with ultra-Orthodox parties to form a government that would replace outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Golan's offer came a day after Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the right-wing party Yisrael Beytenu, lifted his opposition to a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, though he still objects to one that includes Arab parties.
Golan said his Democrats party wants a partnership with the Haredi community based on shared responsibility.
He called for drafting Haredi men into the military, raising employment in the community and giving every Israeli child an education that prepares them to earn a living.
Golan argued that Israel's middle class can no longer carry the economic and security burden on its own.
He said his party respects the Haredi way of life and expects the same respect for the way others live.
Golan told potential partners to meet him in Ramat Gan, a largely secular city.
He said Netanyahu could seek support in the ultra-Orthodox strongholds of Bnei Brak and the Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Golan added that his offer comes with conditions and is not unconditional.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced he would task Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government, and Eisenkot is due to receive the mandate on Sunday.
During Herzog's consultations, factions representing 67 of the Knesset's 120 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, while factions representing 46 recommended Netanyahu.
The 67 include all 19 lawmakers from the Arab Joint List and Ra'am, and the Israeli parties backing Eisenkot hold 48 seats between them, 13 short of a parliamentary majority.
