JERUSALEM — After weeks of tough bargaining, and facing a looming deadline, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached a coalition agreement with his two major partners, paving the way for the formation of a new Israeli government days before a visit by President Obama.
The accord, expected to be signed Thursday, awards important cabinet posts to two rising stars who emerged from the Israeli election in January: Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, the second largest faction in parliament, and Naftali Bennett, head of the rightist Jewish Home faction, politicians told reporters.
The accord, expected to be signed Thursday, awards important cabinet posts to two rising stars who emerged from the Israeli election in January: Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, the second largest faction in parliament, and Naftali Bennett, head of the rightist Jewish Home faction, politicians told reporters.
The alliance of the two party leaders in the coalition talks compelled Netanyahu to meet many of their demands and exclude ultra-Orthodox parties who have been part of successive Israeli governments for decades. While in the government, the ultra-Orthodox groups used their considerable influence to secure funding for religious schools, seminaries, and other institutions.
Lapid, who made domestic reforms the centerpiece of his election campaign, will become finance minister, and Bennett, whose party supports Jewish settlement in the West Bank, will be appointed minister of economy and trade, with the Construction and Housing Ministry also awarded to his party. Bennett’s party will also chair the parliament’s important Finance Committee, which wields significant influence over budget appropriations.
Netanyahu appointed Moshe Yaalon, a former army chief of staff and a hawkish member of his Likud party, as defense minister. Netanyahu will retain the post of foreign minister, pending the outcome of court proceedings against Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, which ran on a joint ticket with Likud. Lieberman served as foreign minister in Netanyahu’s outgoing administration but resigned to face charges of fraud and breach of trust. If he is cleared, Lieberman is slated to return to his former position. Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister who campaigned for a resumption of peace negotiations with the Palestinians, signed a coalition accord with Netanyahu last month and will serve as justice minister and chief negotiator if peace talks resume.
The coalition deal leaves Netanyahu and his partners with a majority of 68 seats in the 120-member parliament. The joint ticket of Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu has 31 seats, Yesh Atid, 19, Jewish Home 12 and Livni’s Hatnua party 6.
The Labor party, with 15 seats, will lead the opposition, in partnership with ultra-Orthodox and Arab parties.
The coalition deal leaves Netanyahu and his partners with a majority of 68 seats in the 120-member parliament. The joint ticket of Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu has 31 seats, Yesh Atid, 19, Jewish Home 12 and Livni’s Hatnua party 6.
The Labor party, with 15 seats, will lead the opposition, in partnership with ultra-Orthodox and Arab parties.
(Chasity M.)
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