Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu late on Sunday night appointed Yuval Steinitz as Minister of International Relations and Silvan Shalom as Energy and Water Minister, resolving feuding over portfolios in a series of late-night meetings with Likud ministers.
Shalom is to also maintain his role as Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee and Regional Cooperation. Shalom will also be a member of the ministerial committee in charge of the negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Shalom will be a member of the Security cabinet as well. He
had insisted on receiving a senior portfolio, having been Finance and
Foreign Minister in the past and Deputy Prime Minister in the last
government, and said he would rather be a regular MK than a minister
with a portfolio that is not influential.
The new government will be sworn in at the Knesset Monday evening.
In negotiations earlier on Sunday, the prime minister appointed Moshe Ya'alon Defense Minister.
"In
such a decisive time for Israel's security, when the area around us is
stormy, it is important that an experienced man like Moshe Ya'alon have
this job," Netanyahu said of the Defense Ministry. "In the name of all
the citizens of Israel, I wish him luck."
Ya'alon, 62, was IDF chief of staff from 2002-2005, and served in the military for 37 years.
"I
will bring the best of my experience and values to this job, and I am
determined to lead the IDF and defense branches to new heights, with
responsibility and good judgment, in order to face the challenges of the
future," he said, thanking the prime minister for appointing him.
Ya'alon
emphasized the Iranian nuclear threat as the central challenge Israel
is facing, adding also upheaval in the Arab world, threats in the north
and from Gaza, issues with the Palestinians, and equality in the burden
of national service as matters with which he will have to deal in the
coming years.
In addition, Ya'alon said "the IDF is not a desert
island," and will have to be part of the effort to stabilize the
economy. In other words, the defense budget will face cuts.
Ya'alon
thanked his predecessor in the job, Ehud Barak and said he feels
privileged to work with IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and the soldiers
and commanders under him.
Likud's Danny Danon will serve as Deputy Defense Minister.
Danon
first turned down the offer from Netanyahu, because he expected to be
made a minister after being voted fifth on the Likud list in the party
primary, but accepted it soon after, following a meeting with Ya'alon.
"I
see this job as one with great importance and a real ability to
contribute to the country, which is why I agreed to the offer," Danon
stated. "We stand before many challenges, and I commit to fill the job
with dedication and to protect the values of the national camp."
The
soon-to-be deputy minister added that he is sure that, in light of his
high ranking on the party list, he will become a minister if a spot in
the government opens up.
Danon was not the only Likud MK to give Netanyahu a hard time, indicating growing frustration within the party’s ranks.
Former
Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin, who was replaced by Yuli Edelstein when
Netanyahu did not speak up in support of Rivlin, refused to meet with
the prime minister, saying “I am not asking him for anything.” This is
the second time Rivlin turned down a meeting with Netanyahu in the past
week.
Gideon Sa'ar will
become Interior Minister, as expected. He said on his way out of his
meeting with Netanyahu that he plans to bring reforms to the ministry,
as he did as Education Minister.
Gilad Erdan received the Home Front Security and Communications portfolios, with a few extra responsibilities.
Erdan,
who was considered a candidate to replace Ambassador to the US Michael
Oren, will be responsible for the strategic relationship with the US.
The position essentially means he is in charge of strategic dialogs with
the US twice a year. In addition, he will be a member of the security
cabinet, along with Netanyahu, Ya'alon, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid,
Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett and Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni.
The Communications Ministry will be expanded to include the Israel Broadcast Agency and the Government Publications Bureau.
Tzachi
Hanegbi will be Knesset House Committee chairman for a year and a half,
while Ofir Akunis will serve as a Deputy Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office, who is responsible for connecting the government and
the Knesset. Akunis' position would consist mostly of giving speeches in
the Knesset representing the government's position, a job previously
held by ministers in addition to their portfolio.
After a year and a half, Akunis and Hanegbi will trade places.
Netanyahu's
office said that the prime minister values Hanegbi's experience in the
diplomatic and security arenas, and his willingness to take a central
role in the Knesset in order to help the new coalition start off
successfully.
The prime minister also asked Haim Katz to continue
in his position as chairman of the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health
Committee and Miri Regev to be chairwoman of the Interior Committee.
Yariv Levin will be coalition chairman, and Yisrael Beytenu’s David
Rotem will remain Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee
chairman.
The Bayit Yehudi Central Committee unanimously approved
the party’s coalition agreements and MKs’ appointments to positions on
Sunday evening.
As planned, Bennett will be Economy and Trade
Minister, Uri Ariel will be Housing and Construction Minister, Uri
Orbach received the Pensioners’ Affairs portfolio, and Rabbi Eli Ben
Dahan will be Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs.
Nissan
Slomiansky, who was an MK for over 10 years, will be chairman of the
powerful Knesset Finance Committee, and Avi Wortzman, former deputy
mayor of Beersheba, will be Deputy Education Minister. Ayelet Shaked
will be faction chairwoman.
In Yesh Atid, Aliza Lavie was
appointed chairwoman of the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the
Status of Women and Ofer Shelach will be faction chairman.
Hatnua’s Amram Mitzna will be Knesset Education Committee chairman.