Prior to elections for the 20th Knesset Bayit Yehudi party leader Naftali Bennett was all but certain that he was going to serve as Israel’s next Foreign Minister. However, instead of moving up to 18 seats from 12 as expected, the party failed miserably in the elections, earning only 8 seats.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was quick to clarify that he was holding on to the Foreign Ministry portfolio, which was understood to be a trump card to entice Yisrael Beitenu to move from the opposition to the coalition. This would permit giving Avigdor Lieberman his old post of Foreign Minister, which he held in the 19th Knesset.

However, Lieberman played hard ball and preferred to remain in opposition rather than sit in a coalition with the chareidi parties and PM Netanyahu is still serving as Foreign Minister.

However, amid reports that Avigdor Lieberman, who heads a six-seat party, will become Israel’s next Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett can already be seen setting his sights on the Foreign Ministry once again. It is being reported that in addition to becoming Foreign Minister, Yisrael Beitenu will also receive the Ministry of Absorption, which was held by Sofia Landver in the 19h Knesset. The question being asked by many is what is going to be with current Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon?

Likud’s Ze’ev Elkin, who is currently serving as Minister of Absorption, is likely to become Minister of the Economy, now being held by Netanyahu. The latter assumed control of the ministry when Aryeh Deri left to become Interior Minister. Tzachi Hanegbi, who is Likud’s chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee is likely to become Minister of Strategic Affairs.

Back to Bayit Yehudi and its concerns as Bennett envisions becoming Foreign Minister but this will compel Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to take over his current assignment as Minister of Education since the party is too small to be overseeing two major cabinet posts. One of the likely candidates to receive the Justice Ministry is Yariv Levine. Once again, what happens to Moshe Ya’alon?

However, one of the dangers of bringing in Yisrael Beitenu and triggering the cabinet shuffle is by opening the coalition agreements, other coalition members may ask for something as well, including Kulanu with 10 seats, Shas with 7 seats and Yahadut Hatorah with 6 seats.

So what remains is the Tourism portfolio since Yariv Levine is likely to be shifted and possibly the Ministry of Welfare & Social Services as Chaim Katz is now the subject of a police investigation addressing his alleged insider trading, which may soon compel his resignation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)