The Israeli media reveals a first look at the controversial new Israeli government formation
The Israeli Channel 12 reported that the initial expectations for important positions in the next Israeli government under the lead Benjamin Netanyahu, will be as it’s likely that the Likud party will retain the Ministry of Defense.
According to Channel 12, the main posts will be as follows:
The Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
The Defense Minister: Yoav Gallant
The Minister of Internal Security: Ben Gvir
The Minister of Interior: Aryeh Adraei
The Finance Minister: Bezalel Smotrich
Meanwhile, there are a few dialogues Netanyahu is holding with his coalition, to confirm the other candidates, including the final candidate for minister of Foreign Affairs position.
In a related context, the head of the Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to postpone the installation of his sixth government, amid disagreements between the right-wing bloc and the parties participating in the coalition over many issues, while the Israeli president, Yitzhak Herzog, Sunday, officially handed Netanyahu a letter of assignment to form the government, after obtaining the support of 64 Knesset members.
Haaretz newspaper reported that the central differences in the coalition negotiations between Netanyahu and the head of religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, and the head of the Shas party, Aryeh Deri, relate to the ministerial portfolios that the latter two will receive.
However, in the meantime, it was agreed among them to legalize outposts and to tighten law enforcement on Palestinian construction in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
Haaretz newspaper added that Smotrich’s request to provide infrastructure for several outposts was approved by means of legal legislation.
64 Knesset members from the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties – Likud, religious Zionism, Shas, and United Torah Judaism – recommended that Netanyahu be assigned to form the next government, but they questioned the possibility of installing the government and presenting it to the Knesset next Wednesday, due to differences between the parties that will form the coalition.
Since Netanyahu was assigned to form the government, Netanyahu will have 28 days to form it, and if he is unable to do so during this period, it will be extended by another 14 days, according to the law.
The Israeli Kan radio, reported that Netanyahu decided to postpone the date for the inauguration of the government, which was scheduled for the end of this week, so that the new date will be next week.
Kan radio attributed this postponement to disagreements within the parties that will form the coalition in issues related to the judiciary and the Supreme Court, the distribution of ministerial portfolios, issues of religion and the state, and the budgets of Haredi schools.
Because of these difficulties, disagreements, and divergence of positions in the coalition negotiations, Netanyahu abandoned his intention to present the new government to the Knesset this week, provided that his government will be presented to the Knesset next week in the event that the points of contention between the government coalition components are overcome.
This comes as sources in the Religious Zionism party, which is calling for a detailed coalition agreement, criticized Netanyahu, claiming that he treats them with mockery and contempt, as he seeks to adopt a policy of divide and rule, as they put it.
On the other hand, the head of the United Torah Judaism party, Yitzhak Goldknopf, announced tangible progress in negotiations with the Likud, but confirmed that the party adheres to its demands on principled matters, including the overcoming clause that allows the implementation of a law to proceed even if the Supreme Court considers it unconstitutional.
Equal working conditions for teaching staff in ultra-Orthodox schools with those in public education.
The differences between the components of the government coalition revolve around the distribution of government ministries, as it is estimated that the Likud party tends to retain its Ministry of Security, in light of the Religious Zionism alliance’s insistence on Bezalel Smotrich taking over the security portfolio, while the Shas party is demanding to obtain Ministries of Finance, Interior, and Religions.
At a time when Herzog tasked Netanyahu with forming a government, it is expected that a meeting will be held this week between the leaders of the future opposition parties, at the invitation of the head of the Yesh Atid party, Yar Lapid.
The head of the National Camp, Benny Gantz, the head of Yisrael Beiteinu, Avigdor Lieberman, the head of the Labor Party, Merav Michaeli, and the head of the United List, Mansour Abbas, are expected to participate in this meeting.
