Israel’s New Government

June 4, 2009

Likud—27

Netanyahu’s own party, and the one that secured the second most votes to Kadima in the election, is by far the largest in the new government. This marks a rebirth of sorts after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon split the party to form Kadima. The new prime minister faces immense pressure from abroad regarding peace talks with the Palestinians. Prior to setting up his government, Bibi talked about starting with economic development in the Palestinian regions to induce goodwill and make a peace deal truly possible. At the time of publication, he had refused to say the words “two-state solution,” although he had outlined a long-term proposal that has the feel of a Palestinian state.

Despite its electoral success, Likud did not acquire many of the key positions in Netanyahu’s cabinet. With new party members who had big names politically—such as former Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon and Benny Begin, son of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin—Netanyahu basically had to recreate ministerial posts or invent new cabinet positions for them, which is why he started off with 30. Stance: Center-Right, hawkish, capitalist

Key Positions:
Minister of Finance—Yuval Steinitz
Minister of Education—Gideon Sa`ar
Minister of Strategic Affairs—Moshe Ya’alon

Yisrael Beiteinu—15

The second largest party in the new government, this immigrant-supported party, was the political surprise of the election, benefiting largely from the right-leaning public sentiment after the war in Gaza. They joined Netanyahu’s government amidst promises to reform marriage and conversion laws.

The party supports creating a separate Palestinian entity. However, Beiteinu Knesset Member David Rotem said the proper order is for the Palestinians to clamp down on terror and accept Israel as a Jewish, Zionist state in the Middle East and then “talk peace for peace, land for land, population for population,” such as swapping West Bank Israeli settlements (those living in biblical Judea and Samaria) for Arab towns in northern Israel. They believe in the need for loyalty and responsibility to the state from Israeli-Arabs and traditionally take a tough stance on military matters. Stance: Center-right, reformist, hawkish

Key Positions:
Minister of Foreign Affairs—Avigdor Lieberman
Minister of Internal Security—Yitzhak Aharonovitch
Minister of Tourism—Stas Misezhnikov

Labor—13

Despite coming from a left-leaning agenda, Labor jumped in with Netanyahu’s right-leaning coalition at the last minute. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak was able to maintain his position as defense minister, and several other Labor members also kept their cabinet positions, which is part of why they joined the government. Another key reason was the risk of becoming irrelevant in the opposition, playing second-fiddle to Kadima, whose ideology mirrors Labor’s on several fronts.

Barak is a key reason Netanyahu wanted Labor, since he brings experience and consistency to the Defense Ministry, although his stance on military matters is more lenient and open to compromise than Netanyahu’s. (It’s interesting to note, though, that Barak was Bibi’s commander in the army.) Labor and Barak are also of a different political type than Likud, allowing Netanyahu to present a “broad” coalition. Stance: Center-left, militarily moderate, socialist

Key Positions:
Minister of Defense—Ehud Barak
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor—Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Minister of Welfare and Social Services—Isaac Herzog

Other Parties

Shas—11

This Ultra-Orthodox party got an increase in child welfare payments, and party chairman Eli Yishai is the minister of interior. Stance: Center

United Torah Judaism—5

Another Ultra-Orthodox party, they also got financial benefits for their constituents, and mid-level leadership posts.

Stance: Center-Right

Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home)—3

The smallest and farthest right party in the government. Chairman Daniel Hershkowitz is the minister of science and technology. Stance: Right

Netanyahu on Challenges Ahead (from his opening Knesset speech)

On Iran: “The Jewish people has experience with dictators, and it cannot overestimate megalomaniac dictators who threaten to destroy it.”

On Peace Talks: “We will carry out ongoing negotiations for peace with the Palestinians in an attempt to reach a permanent agreement. We don’t want to rule another people, and the agreement will give the Palestinians all the rights to rule themselves, except for those that endanger Israel.”

On the Financial Crisis: “The fact that we are a small country provides leverage in getting out of this crisis. The Israeli market is like a small and light speedboat whose direction can be changed more easily. I myself will lead this change of direction, and the government I head will operate to protect work places, to resolve the shortage of credit in the market, and to maintain macroeconomic policies.”

By Joshua Spurlock, Correspondent, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio

Photo Credit: Photo by Isranet