The new Netanyahu government received a vote of confidence today from the Parliament
“King Bibi” is back on his throne.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power was made official today, with him sworn in as prime minister and the new government – a coalition of Likud with ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties – receiving a vote of confidence in parliament.
The most durable prime minister in Israel’s history, “King Bibi,” as his supporters have nicknamed him, begins his third term as prime minister. To secure this new term, he had to make significant concessions to his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies to form a government.
These concessions, some of which have caused an outcry in opposition ranks, affect key areas of public and daily life in Israel – defense, security, education, justice.
Here’s a rundown of some of the new government’s top ministers and some of the concessions made to form the new government — the most right-wing in Israel’s history, according to many analysts.
Secretary of State: Eli Cohen
Israel’s former intelligence minister Eli Cohen, who played an important role in normalizing relations between Israel and Arab countries, has been named the country’s foreign minister.
In mid-2020, Israel announced the normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, then Sudan and Morocco, under the “Abraham Accords”.
In January 2021, Cohen, 50, led the first official delegation led by an Israeli minister to Khartoum in the wake of the normalization of relations between those two countries.
He takes office as Netanyahu seeks to expand the “Abraham Accords” with Saudi Arabia.
Minister of Defense: Yoav Gallad
A member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, Gallant, 64, began his military service as a Navy midshipman and was slated to become head of the armed forces in 2011, but allegations that he was carrying out construction work on his home without obtaining permission, they canceled plans.
Minister of Finance: Bezalel Smotrich
A West Bank settler, head of the far-right Religious Zionist party, will lead the finance ministry in a rotation deal with Arieh Deri from the religious Shas party. After causing concern by saying that Israel would prosper if it embraced the values of the Bible, Smotrich made it clear that he supports the free market.
Smotrich, 42, opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. In the past, he has railed against Israel’s Arab citizens, railed against activists for the LGBTQI+ community, and called the judicial system too liberal. Now he claims he will serve all Israelis.
His duties in the new cabinet include a defense ministry role overseeing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which he wants to expand and eventually be annexed by Israel. He previously served as Minister of Transport.
Minister of National Security: Itamar Ben Gvir
A West Bank settler, head of the far-right Jewish Power party, Ben Gvir secured an expanded ministerial portfolio as head of police. He has pledged to focus on law and order for all citizens, but favors looser regulations on the use of fire by Israeli security forces facing Arab protests or riots.
Ben Gvir, 46, opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and supports the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority interim government created in the 1990s.
He formerly belonged to Kahane Chai, a Jewish militant organization blacklisted in Israel and the US. He has since repudiated some of Kahane’s views.
In 2007, he was convicted of inciting racist hatred against Arabs and supporting terrorism. He is a lawyer.
Minister of Interior and Health: Arieh Deri
Derry, 63, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, is the veteran leader of Shas, which draws support from religious Middle Eastern Jews. His appointment to the new Netanyahu government has been challenged in Israel’s Supreme Court, given his conviction last year for tax fraud, but no jail time.
In 1999, he was sentenced to three years in prison for bribery. He returned to politics in 2012. With his coalition deal, he will become finance minister in two years.
Shas, along with another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, has long raised concerns among secular liberals by demanding welfare benefits and conscription exemptions for its voters.
The concessions
Defense and Security
– Smotrich becomes minister responsible for the political management of the occupied West Bank in the Ministry of Defense. This measure, made possible by the passing of a law, is equivalent to a division of powers of the minister of defense. It was strongly criticized, notably by former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who felt it would weaken Israel’s security.
– Passage of a law expanding the powers of the minister of Internal Security, renamed “National Security”, under the leadership of Itamar Ben Gvir. The Act expressly gives the minister the power to direct the general policy of the police and to lay down its “general principles of action”.
– A bill to introduce the death penalty for terrorists will be submitted to the Knesset before the 2023 budget vote. The death penalty for terrorists has long been called for by some far-right lawmakers, but has never found enough support to become law.
Settlement in the occupied West Bank
– Government decision within 60 days to recognize illegal outposts, established without government approval in the occupied West Bank
– Passage of a law that will make Jewish residents of the West Bank outside the jurisdiction of the military
– Development of roads and infrastructure for West Bank settlers
Justice
– Passage of a law allowing a person who has been convicted of an offense but not sentenced to prison to hold a ministerial portfolio. That vote, which took place on Tuesday, allowed Arieh Deri to become deputy prime minister, health and interior minister in rotation with Smotrich, a post he had requested.
State and religion relations
– Changes to the “Law of Return” will be put to a vote in the Knesset to tighten the criteria for obtaining Israeli citizenship
– Pass a law that would allow a service provider to refuse service on religious grounds
– The budget for Yeshivas (Jewish educational institutions that focus on the study of rabbinic literature, mainly the Talmud) will be included in the state budget for the first time, in a 2.5 billion shekel fund
– Cancellation of the religious reforms passed by the previous government
– Allow segregation between men and women in public space
Education
Creation of a position of deputy minister in charge of a “national Jewish identity” authority, in charge of external programs of the Ministry of Education, under the leadership of Avi Maoz, leader of the Noam party, known for its positions against the LGBTI+ community.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
