While party leaders have yet to meet with President Reuven Rivlin, who will officially authorize the beginning of coalition efforts, one may rest assured that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has made the calls, spoken with party leaders, and the negotiations are well underway, albeit unofficially.
Following is the wish list that the tzibur is aware of to date
Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Kulanu party stated loud and clear during election season that his precondition to entering any coalition is that he receives the Finance Minister portfolio.
Naftali Bennett of Bayit Yehudi did not deliver the goods and his party only has eight seats, a drop of one-third from the party’s present twelve seats. Bennett all but promised upwards of fifteen seats in the election. Nevertheless he continues to view himself as a major partner and will be seeking either the Defense Ministry or Foreign Ministry.
Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the 6-seat Yisrael Beitenu also took a beating in the elections for his party has 13 seats in the outgoing Knesset. Nevertheless, he has already announced he either continues as Foreign Minister or he will head to the opposition.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri announced during elections that he hopes to serve as Minister of the Interior, as he did in the 12th and 13th Knessets before being convicted of fraud and imprisoned.
Yahadut Hatorah’s Yaakov Litzman expects to become Deputy Minister of Health with ministerial authority as he was in the 18th Knesset. Yahadut Hatorah signals entering the coalition will be conditional on this appointment.
Kulanu party’s Yoav Galant, a retired IDF major-general, is vying for the Defense or Interior portfolios.
Bayit Yehudi’s Ayelet Shaked still has her sights on the Ministry of Public Security as she announced during the campaign when the party expected to get 15 or more seats.
Yisrael Beitenu MK Orli Levy-Abekasis is seeking to become the next Minister of Welfare & Social Services.
Shas MK Yitzchak Cohen expects to become the Minister of Religious Services.
Yahadut Hatorah’s Moshe Gafne is seeking to regain control of the Knesset Finance Committee, a position he held in the 18th Knesset.
Among Likud faction members;
· Gilad Erdan – Foreign Minister or Justice Minister
· Moshe Ya’alon – Defense Minister
· Yisrael Katz – Minister of the Economy (Expanded portfolio version) or Transportation Minister
· Miri Regev – Minister of Welfare & Social Services
· Silvan Shalom – Foreign Minister
· Yuval Steinitz – Education Minister
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Every request is legitimate, although they may not all be fulfilled, except that of Deri. It will be a blemish on the State of Israel to have a convicted criminal as its Minister of the Interior or Minister of Anything Else.
A month ahead of haggling, behind the back deals & promises !!!
1. The Hareidi parties need a cancellation of the conscription law. It is “existential” for their communities. They will be offered a choice: a ministry for your leader, but only if you agree to close down the yeshiovs and send the boys to the army or prison. Furthermore, Netanyahu can dump the hareidim and substitute Yesh Atid (which on losing a third of its seats may be less greedy, and would be delighted to join a haredi-free government since they relish the though of thousands of hareidi kids giving up a life of Torah and Mitsvos).
2. If Likud’s core “natural allies” are too demanding, Likud can probably form a goverment with Labor (which after having done poorly will be agreeable to be the junior partner). That would enable Likud to get more patronage than if they try to placate overdemanding allies.
I didn’t vote for Deri, but the law is the law. He served his time and waited the requisite amount of time. According to the law he is now able to serve. If you don’t agree with the law then petition to change it. If, on the other hand, you think the law is fair then Deri should be allowed to serve as a minister without objection.
Avreimi
That “conviction” was a sham, an attempt to derail the political career of a chareidi rising star. Deri is an honest man.
akuperma,
usually i see where you are coming from, this time i dont
netanyahu would never take back lapid after dissolving the 19th knesset because of him