Tag Archive: knesset


Likud Ministers

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May 8, 2015

The coalition agreement between Likud and Bayit Yehudi reveals that Likud will be appointing 12 Ministers. In my previous piece I pointed out that 17 Likud MKs are asking for a ministry. In a narrow coalition of 61-MKs every vote counts and some Likud MKs have started to wage an internal war. Certain Ministers are looking for a promotion and others are fighting to be a Minister. It looks like Netanyahu is planning on lowering the number of disappointed Likud MKs with positions such as another Deputy Defense Minister and the position of the Knesset’s Defense & Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman. There are 18 ministries currently open for the 12 incoming Likud ministers following the coalition agreements with UTJ, Kulanu, Shas and Bayit Yehudi. Expect some of the 18 open ministries to be merged.

Here is a wild prediction:

Foreign Minister – Netanyahu keeps it to himself for now

Immigration & Absorption Minister – Netanyahu keeps it to himself for now

Defense Minister – Yaalon (again)

Interior Minister – Shalom

Internal (Homeland) Security Minister – Erdan

Transportation Minister – Y. Katz (again)

Communications Minister – Steinitz

Energy & Water Minister – Hanegbi

Welfare Minister – C. Katz

Tourism Minister – Regev

Culture & Sport Minister – Elkin

Science & Technology Minister – Levin

Senior Citizens Minister – G. Gamliel

International Relations Minister, Strategic Affairs Minister, Intelligence Affairs Minister, Regional Cooperation Minister, Jerusalem Affairs Minister – Benny Begin

Defense & Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman – Dichter

Deputy Defense Minister #2 – Kara

Deputy in Prime Minister Office Minister – Akunis

Deputy Minister – Hotovely

Danon will be offered a Deputy Minister and will turn it down.

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Netanyahu’s Fourth Cabinet

Filed under: Knesset, Other — 31 Comments
April 12, 2015

Netanyahu’s Fourth Cabinet

Prime Minister Netanyahu will work to sign coalition agreements with Kulanu, Bayit Yehudi, Shas, UTJ and Yisrael Beitenu over the next few weeks. Judging by his previous three governments Netanyahu will save the Likud ministry appointments for last. It will be a tough race since everyone is looking for a promotion following Likud’s jump from 18 Knesset seats to 30. The Prime Minister was re-elected with 15 MKs from the previous Likud list, and 3 MKs are returning vets who are all looking for top jobs. The race for the Likud ministerial slots will be intense if after signing coalition deals with five other parties the next government indeed is limited to 18 ministers as the current law mandates. Netanyahu has in the past ignored the Likud primary results and created his own formula for appointing Likud members to his cabinet.

The Likud minister candidates can be divided into four groups: The current ministers, the veterans returning from hiatus, the veterans who were not on hiatus, and the class of 2009.

Prime Minister Netanyahu was able to reduce the large number of Likud veterans seeking a portfolio by one with the reconfirmation of Speaker Edelstein on the first day of the Knesset session. The five current Likud Ministers view themselves as candidates for a promotion to top portfolios. Defense Minister Yaalon expects to keep his position despite Bayit Yehudi’s Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beitenu’s Avigdor Liberman’s demands. Likud’s new #2, Interior Minister Gilad Erdan, who was Likud’s #3 in the previous two Netanyahu governments, is looking for a promotion, and there are only a handful of portfolios that would accomplish that such as Foreign Affairs or Justice. The other three Likud Ministers – Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom are also looking for promotions. Shalom will most likely become the only cabinet member to serve in all four Netanyahu governments.

Three veteran MKs who are now back in Knesset after a hiatus are expecting to be added to the cabinet table before other Likud MKs are considered for promotion. Although they have had their share of disagreements, Former Minister Benny Begin, who was first elected to Knesset in 1988, was brought out of retirement twice by Netanyahu and served as a Minister in Netanyahu’s first and second governments. Former Kadima Minister and security figure Avi Dichter is also expecting a ministry despite placing 26th on the Likud’s list. Another back bencher #24, former Deputy Minister and Druze MK Ayoub Kara, who was first elected to Knesset in 1999, is expecting a ministry because he is the only non-Jewish candidate vying for a cabinet position.

The next three ministerial candidates include three veteran MKs who have not taken a hiatus and played active roles in Netanyahu’s previous governments. They expect Netanyahu to follow his previous behavior of favoring seniority over the Likud primary results. Former Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, also a member of the 1988 class that included Netanyahu and Begin, is one of just four current Likud MKs to have served in Netanyahu’s first cabinet (the others are Begin, Shalom and Edelstein, then of the Yisrael B’Aliyah party). Former Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel, the only current Likud member of the 2003 class that is not a minister, expects to be appointed as the senior female Likud member. Committee Chairman Chaim Katz who has been passed up many times for a portfolio since he was first elected to Knesset in 1999 is expecting to finally join the cabinet.

That leaves six right-wing members of the Likud 2009 class: Zeev Elkin, Yariv Levin, Ofir Akunis, Danny Danon, Tzipi Hotovelly and Miri Regev. All of them expect to be ministers. Some of them have scored very high in the last two Likud primaries and others expect to be rewarded for performing the more difficult tasks of Netanyahu’s second and third governments. Judging by Netanyahu’s previous preferences his next government might not include these six right-wing Likud members.

It is not just the 2009 class who might be disappointed. Others such as Kara and Chaim Katz could also see themselves disappointed as well. With so much focus on his coalition partners and 17 of the 30 Likud MKs expecting a ministry, Prime Minister Netanyahu might have bigger headaches during his fourth government from his own party members who are not happy with their appointments.

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20th Knesset – Day 1 (Summary of Yesterday’s Session)

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 5 Comments
April 1, 2015

The Opening of the 20th Knesset

At 4 PM Knesset Secretary Yardena Meller-Horowitz opened the 20th Knesset session by introducing the President. President Reuven Rivlin gave the first speech of the 20th Knesset. Afterwards he swore in the most veteran MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) to serve as temporary Speaker of the House. Quotes were recited from both Tehilim (Psalms) and the declaration of independence to reflect the Jewish and democratic nature of the state. Speaker Peretz swore in his 119 colleagues with two minor interruptions by MKs Aryeh Deri (Shas) and Achmad Tibi (The Joint List). The session concluded with the national anthem Hatikva. At 4:55 PM Speaker Peretz called for a 65-minute recess for the purpose of enjoying the official toast and taking the ceremonial picture.

Following the First Recess

Speaker Peretz opened the session 32 minutes late. He announced that on March 25th President Rivlin officially handed over to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the mandate to form the next government. Knesset Steering Committee Chairman Zeev Elkin (Likud) informed the Knesset of the proposed composition of the 32-member steering committee. The Steering Committee was approved in the first Knesset vote of the 20th Knesset – 107-0. Speaker Peretz announced that the Speaker of the previous Knesset, MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), has been nominated by nine of the ten Knesset lists to serve as Speaker for the 20th Knesset. Edelstein’s nomination was approved by the Knesset vote of 103-1 with 7 abstaining MKs from The Joint List. Minister Shalom (Likud) announced that he has voted against Edelstein’s appointment by accident. The outgoing Speaker Peretz gave the gavel to the new (old) Speaker Edelstein. Speaker Edelstein gave a warm speech thanking the Knesset for re-electing him. Following the speech Speaker Edelstein called for a recess for the Steering Committee to convene and closed the 21-minute session.

Following the Second Recess

Speaker Edelstein opened the session after a 72-minute recess. Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) announced that the Government has approved that Prime Minister Netanyahu will remain the caretaker Minister is charge of seven ministries – Finance, Health, Environment, Education, Science & Technology, Justice and Welfare. Akunis announced that in three of those ministries Netanyahu has appointed Deputy Ministers to administrate those offices – Deputy Environment Minister Akunis, Deputy Health Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) and Deputy Science & Technology Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud). Steering Committee Chairman Elkin announced that his committee has agreed on two temporary 17-MK Knesset Committees that will function until the new government if formed. Elkin designated the previous committee chairs to remain in their positions – Appropriations Committee Chairman Nissan Slomiansky (Bayit Yehudi) and Defense & Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Yariv Levin (Likud). Elkin announced that the Defense & Foreign Affairs Committee would meet the next day at 9:30 AM and the Appropriations Committee at 2 PM. Elkin informed Speaker Edelstein that the Steering Committee has decided to call for a Knesset Recess starting tomorrow (April 1st) until Monday May 4th. Elkin went through the procedures for the plenum and two functioning Knesset committees during the 33-day recess. Speaker Edelstein expressed hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu would form a government before the next Knesset session on May 4th.  The Speaker closed the third part of the Knesset session that lasted just ten minutes. Despite opening at 4 PM and closing at 8:15 PM the Knesset was in session for just 86 minutes.

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Final Phase 2 Results (Israel’s Electoral College): Netanyahu 67, Herzog 29, Neither 24

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 51 Comments
March 23, 2015

President Rivlin conducted “Day 2” of his consultations with the remaining delegations. Kulanu and Yisrael Beitenu nominated Netanyahu. Yesh Atid did not nominate anyone. Meretz chose to nominate Herzog.

It was the kingmaker Moshe Kahlon who endorsed Netanyahu for Phase 2 earlier in the day to bring him to 61 seats. This clinched Netanyahu’s victory and took away the possibility of President Rivlin choosing Herzog or demanding a unity government. The law does not allow the President to intervene if a candidate recieves a majority. Yesh Atid decided to keep their Phase 3 options open by not nominating Herzog for Phase 2, despite promising they would nominate Herzog before the elections.

President Rivlin will formally ask Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form his fourth government when the official results are released tomorrow or on Wedensday. Netanyahu has already started holding talks with his potential coalition partners today. It is possible that coalition negotations will go on for several weeks. The next Knesset will be sworn in next week on Tuesday March 31st. Phase 3 will be conducted after Netanyahu signs enough coalition deals to produce a majority of at least 61 MKs to approve his fourth government in Knesset.

The final tally of Phase 2, Israel’s electoral college:

Netanyahu 67 (Likud, Bayit Yehudi, Shas, UTJ, Kulanu and Yisrael Beitenu), Herzog 29 (Zionist Union, Meretz), Neither 24 (The Joint List, Yesh Atid).

My 2 cents: I’ll note that before the election I predicted a Phase 2 coalition of 66 seats for Prime Minister Netanyahu that included the above lists and many of my loyal readers disagreed with me. 🙂

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Following Day 1 of Phase 2: Netanyahu 51, Herzog 24, Neither 13

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 5 Comments
March 22, 2015

It is unprecedented, but President Rivlin received special permission from the Central Elections Committee Chairman to begin consultations with the delegations of the ten lists elected to Knesset prior to official results. Final results that are not yet official were published on Thursday.

Six lists arrived at the President’s Residence today for “Day 1”.

Following Day 1: Netanyahu has received 51 endorsements (Likud, Bayit Yehudi, Shas and UTJ), Herzog 24 (Zionist Union), Neither 13 (The Joint List).

Tomorrow “Day 2” will begin with the last four lists (Kulanu, Yisrael Beitenu, Yesh Atid and Meretz) who will meet with President Rivlin.

President Rivlin will be allowed to officially grant the mandate of forming the next government when he receives the official results on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Despite serious charges of racism against Netanyahu, The Joint List did not recommend Zionist Union leader Herzog in Phase 2. The Joint List’s decision all but officially clinches Phase 2 for Prime Minister Netanyahu.

For those who missed the Top 20 Model’s Party-by-Party High-Low

Likud
High – Ashkelon 39.88%, Beer Sheva 37.69%, Netanya 33.54%
Low – Bnei Brak 4.57%, Tel Aviv 18.19%, Haifa 20.74%

Zionist Union
High – Kfar Saba 34.94%, 34.45% Hertzlia Tel Aviv 34.27%
Low – Bnei Brak 1.28%, Bet Shemesh 3.28%, Ashdod 8.56%

The Joint List
High – Haifa 8.27%, Tel Aviv 3.18%, Jerusalem 1.23%
Low – All others under 1%

Yesh Atid
High – Modiin 18.01%, Hertzlia 14.98%, Rishon L’Tzion 14.40%
Low – Bnei Brak 0.65%, Bet Shemesh 2.60%, Jerusalem 4.21%

Kulanu
High – Hadera 15.75%, Holon 11.98%, Rishon L’Tzion 11.44%
Low – Bnei Brak 1.15%, Bet Shemesh 3.50%, Jerusalem 4.68%

Bayit Yehudi
High – Raanana 10.91%, Petah Tikva 10.71%, Modiin 10.56%
Low – Bnei Brak 2.35%, Tel Aviv 3.36%, Hertzlia 4.16%

Shas
High – Bnei Brak 23.97%, Bet Shemesh 14.35%, Jerusalem 11.95%
Low – Modiin 1.25%, Raanana 2.06%, Haifa 2.23%

Yisrael Beitenu
High – Ashkelon 15.12%, Ashdod 13.36%, Bat Yam 12.88%
Low – Bnei Brak 0.68%, Raanana 1.48%, Tel Aviv 2.09%

UTJ
High – Bnei Brak 59.35%, Bet Shemesh 28.30%, Jerusalem 21.13%
Low – Modiin 0.58%, Holon 0.62%, Kfar Saba 0.63%

Meretz
High – Tel Aviv 13.02%, Hertzlia 6.51%, Ramat Gan 6.15%
Low – Bnei Brak 0.20%, Bet Shemessh 0.48%, Ashdod 0.75%

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