Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is drawing on right-wing politicians for top posts in his new cabinet that have been criticized by Israel’s president and Western officials.
(Bloomberg) — Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is drawing on right-wing politicians for top posts in his new cabinet that have been criticized by Israel’s president and Western officials.
Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the nationalist Religious Zionism party, is poised to become Israel’s next finance minister, while Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party will control the national security ministry, with responsibility for the police.
The cabinet is expected to be approved by parliament on Thursday and will cement the return of Netanyahu, 73, as prime minister after just 18 months in opposition.
Israeli Youth Lead Turn to the Far Right as Violence Increases
By assembling a government with ultra-Orthodox and nationalist parties, Israel’s longest-serving premier has placed himself in the unusual role of moderate.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, has previously expressed concern about the policies advocated by Ben Gvir and others expected to join the government after a vote that gave right-wing and religious parties a substantial majority in parliament.
Israel’s president, who rarely intervenes publicly on political matters, “expressed deep concern” about some of the incoming government‘s proposals, and attitudes towards the country’s Arab and LGBT communities, according to a statement Wednesday after he met Ben Gvir.
President Isaac Herzog also presented the worries of “large sections of the nation and the Jewish world,” to Ben Gvir during the meeting, it said.
Smotrich will serve as finance chief for the first half of the government’s term, and will also serve as a minister in the Defense Ministry. Arye Deri, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, will then take over the role.
Netanyahu is also drawing on members of his center-right Likud party for other senior posts. He named retired major general Yoav Gallant as his defense minister on Wednesday. He’s expected to name Likud politicians to head the justice and foreign ministries.
Netanyahu Forms Israeli Ruling Coalition Right On Deadline
Netanyahu’s return ends the brief tenure of Israel’s most diverse coalition government, comprised of eight parties from across political divides.
But they were united by little except their opposition to Netanyahu and their fragile alliance collapsed earlier this year, sending Israelis back to the polls for the fifth time since 2019.
–With assistance from Alisa Odenheimer.
(Writes through, adds Israeli president, details on defense minister)
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
