The war that Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett have been fighting against each other for the past month could continue for another year, but the coalition will not fall apart over issues of religion and state or the economy. However, the agreements that were reached between the parties earlier, during the talks to form the coalition, will not be implemented, to the detriment of the Israeli public at large. Equal national service? Something will be done, but the main work will be left for the next Knesset. The Peri Committee's report was just a start. Reforming the structure of the Chief Rabbinate? Habayit Hayehudi promised to do so, but it has not fulfilled that promise and it holds veto power. Tax benefits for same-sex parents? The dispute between Lapid and Bennett on this issue has benefited each within his own party, so they are keeping it going. If they want to end it, a compromise solution is waiting: tax benefits, regardless of the gender of the parents. This is an easy compromise, but it has not yet been worthwhile for Lapid and Bennett to agree to it. Lapid and Bennett still have one thing in common -- they both lack an interest in toppling the government. Shas leader Aryeh Deri taking Bennett's place in the government would be a nightmare for both the rabbis who back Uri Ariel and also for Israel's centrist camp. With the next election not due until 2017, none of the coalition partners would benefit from bringing down the government at this time. Most of the plans that Lapid and Bennett promised voters on religion and state and the economy will not come to fruition. Health Minister Yael German (Yesh Atid) will not be able to pass the bill that would allow surrogates for same-sex couples. Bennett will also face similar frustrations. And time will march on.
Things will change if the government is required to vote on an interim peace deal with the Palestinians. But the decisions made by Lapid and Bennett, and also Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni, on this issue would be of secondary importance to what takes place in Likud-Beytenu, where the difficult choice would also be influenced by outside factors in the Middle East and overseas. Lapid and Bennett will be mere cameo players in the drama.
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