Four parties will make up the new Israeli coalition government, adding up to a 68-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. It is the first Israeli government in decades not to include any ultra-Orthodox parties and includes some staunch secularists. On security matters, its members range from hard-line hawks to the center-left. Here is a look at their main policies:
-Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu (31 seats): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hawkish Likud Party teamed with former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s ultranationalist Yisrael Beitenu for the election but the two parties have not officially merged. Likud is known for taking a tough line toward the Palestinians and for its conservative economic policies. It also advocates strong international action – possibly including a last-resort military strike – against arch-enemy Iran’s nuclear facilities. Netanyahu has grudgingly accepted the idea of a Palestinian state, though his party traditionally claimed the West Bank and east Jerusalem for Israel. Yisrael Beitenu, which represents immigrants from the former Soviet Union, takes an even harder line toward the Palestinians. The party has a more secular following and rejects the sweeping draft exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews. Lieberman has been indicted on charges of fraud and breach of trust and currently cannot serve in the new government, though the Foreign Ministry is being held open for him until the conclusion of his trial – assuming he is cleared. Likud’s Moshe Yaalon, a former military chief, is slated to be the new defense minister.
-Yesh Atid (19 seats): Founded just a year ago by former TV personality Yair Lapid, the party represents secular, middle-class interests and surged to become the second-largest bloc in parliament. It has vowed to enact a universal military draft, ending exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox, and wants to cut the stipends they receive from the state. The party also advocates spending less money on Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. Lapid has vowed to make a serious effort to reach peace. Yet his campaign made little mention of security issues, focusing heavily on a social and economic agenda that favors investment in education and other issues important to the middle class. Lapid is slated to become the finance minister, a position with great influence over the budget. His party will also control the Education Ministry and three other minor portfolios.
-Jewish Home (12 seats): Although its core constituency is modern Orthodox Jews, the party surged in the polls on the back of a strong pro-settlement message and the appeal of its charismatic leader, high-tech millionaire Naftali Bennett, to secularists as well. Bennett is allied with Lapid on most domestic issues, but the two differ sharply over peace efforts and settlement building. A former leader of the West Bank settlement movement, Bennett opposes any concessions to the Palestinians. He has even called for Israel to annex large chunks of the West Bank, the heartland of any future Palestinian state. Bennett will lead the Industry and Trade Ministry and his nationalistic party will also control the Housing Ministry, giving it the budgets to promote new settlement construction.
-Hatnua (6 seats): Former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni formed the party to present an alternative to voters distressed by the stalemate in peacemaking. Livni, who led peace negotiations with the Palestinians in Ehud Olmert’s centrist government, will serve a similar role under Netanyahu. She has been appointed justice minister and has promised an aggressive push for peace with the Palestinians.
(AP)
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12 Responses
its the second, anyone remember shinui?
Charedim boycotted the governments for decades, yet still survived — in fact, thrived. This in spite of leaders FAR more hostile to Torah than anyone here.
Shinui evolved into Yesh Atid (on the right) and Meretz (on the left)
#1 is correct. Shinui was also led by a Lapid — Tommy Lapid. In fact, when I first heard of Yair Lapid I wondered if they were related somehow. But all I can say is that I hope the current Lapid ends up imploding in his own exhaust fumes the way his Shinui predecessors did.
By the time Pesach is over, this “Government” will be completely dissolved! Netanyahu hates Bennett & Lapid like poison & the knifes will come out & the backstabbing will start as of tonight!
Decades is not an accuracy regarding the last time Chardeim were not in the government.
Any guesses how long this coalition will last? Not too long!
To quote my favorite rabbit: “Of course you realize, this means war..”
A mitigating factor is that both Likud and Bayit Yehudi will be in big trouble if they permanently alienate the Hareidim. Bayit Yehudi will be in an awful position if Feiglin can say “Vote for Likud – the only party that put support for settlement ahead of other issues, and the party that tried to protect the yeshivos”. Likud is in an awful position if the Hareidim ally with Labor on a pro-welfare, anti-conscription platform, since that would mean that the Left-Right split would be roughly 50-50, whereas for the last generation the Right had overwheliming dominated the kenesset so the only issue was which right-wing party would dominate (e.g. Sharon, Livni, Olmert or Netanyahu).
Kanoi, what you don’t realize is that the Chareidim don’t have that much power.
Well, it will interesting to see how Lapid and Bugs Bunny, whoops, I mean Naftali Bennett get on. Lapid is against settlements and charadim, Bennett is supposedly for the settlements and anti religious. Livni is just anti charadi and really stupid.
Good luck Israel, you may need it.
Even if the government lasts its full 4 years which is highly unlikely, the chareidi draft is not going to take effect for 5 years so by the time the next elections come around and the chareidim, Pleae G-d, will get into power they can just cancel the law, so it is not really such a big deal.