Reply To: Threading the Needle on Social Issues in the New Coalition

In what was clearly meant as a signal to the religious/right, Netanyahu loyalist Amir Ohana was selected by Bibi to become the Knesset speaker. He is the FIRST openly LGBTQ MK to hold that role through which he will exercise considerable control over how/when legislation proceeds through the Knesset. In what was clearly mean as a message to several of the Coalition “social conservatives” his acceptance speech included explicit commentary about protecting LGBTQ rights, with a salute to his “husband” who was seated in the balcony above. I suspect the initial efforts to throw some red meat to the right will be to increase funding for settlements in Yehuda/Shomron and to UTJ/Shas mosdos. More controversial issues related to “Jewish identity”, explicit draft exemption for kollel yungerleit, and authority of the Rabannut over civil matters will be kicked down the road.