Thirty-fifth government of Israel

The thirty-fifth government of Israel (Hebrew: מֶמְשֶׁלֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַשְׁלוֹשִׁים וְחָמֵשׁ, Mem'shelet Yisra'el HaShloshim VeHamesh) is the current government of Israel, which was sworn in on 17 May 2020.

Netanyahu/Gantz government

35th Cabinet of Israel
Incumbent
Date formed17 May 2020 (2020-05-17)
People and organisations
PresidentReuven Rivlin
Head of governmentBenjamin Netanyahu
Deputy head of governmentBenny Gantz
No. of ministers32
Member parties
Status in legislature
Opposition parties
Opposition leaderYair Lapid
History
Election(s)2020 Knesset election
Legislature term(s)23rd Knesset
Incoming formation2019–2020 crisis
Predecessor34th government

It was originally expected to be established following the April 2019 election, but after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a government, the Knesset dissolved itself, thereby setting up a snap election that took place on 17 September 2019.[1] Following the second election, no one was able to form a government again, and a third election had to take place on 2 March 2020.[2] An agreement was finally reached on 20 April 2020 between Netanyahu and MK Benny Gantz on the formation of a national unity government. On 2 December 2020, a preliminary measure was enacted to dissolve this government.[3] The Knesset, and with it the current government's legislative operations, was again dissolved on 23 December 2020, resulting in the need for new elections.[4][5]

Background

After the April 2019 Israeli legislative election, the Blue and White faction leader Benny Gantz conceded, paving the way for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Likud, to begin talks with other parties to form a governing coalition.[6]

Recommendations (April 2019)

Israeli government formation, April–May 2019

15 April – 30 May 2019
 
Nominee Benjamin Netanyahu Benny Gantz
Party Likud Blue and White
Electoral vote 65 45

Prime minister before election

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

Outcome of formation

No government formed and fresh elections called. Netanyahu remains prime minister ad interim

On 15–16 April 2019, President Reuven Rivlin met with representatives of the parties in the 21st Knesset. They recommended as follows[7][8] and Rivlin officially chose Netanyahu to form the next government.[9]

Party Party Leader Seats Recommended Source
Likud Benjamin Netanyahu 35 Netanyahu [10]
Blue & White Benny Gantz 35 Gantz [10]
Shas Aryeh Deri 8 Netanyahu [10]
UTJ Yaakov Litzman 8 Netanyahu [10]
HadashTa'al Ayman Odeh 6 No-one [10]
Labor Avi Gabbay 6 Gantz [11]
Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman 5 Netanyahu [11]
Union of the Right-Wing Parties Rafi Peretz 5 Netanyahu [11]
Meretz Tamar Zandberg 4 Gantz [11]
Kulanu Moshe Kahlon 4 Netanyahu [11]
Ra'amBalad Mansour Abbas 4 No-one [12]

New election

Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition by the deadline of 29 May. Instead of letting Benny Gantz attempt to form a coalition of his own, a vote by the majority of the Knesset elected to dissolve itself, and a snap election was held on 17 September 2019.[1]

That election was inconclusive, prompting warnings of a third election.[13] This prospect was deemed unacceptable by the opposition and the general public, and the prime minister called on Gantz to form a national unity government, even offering to cede the top job sometime in the future. Gantz rejected this offer,[14] noting Netanyahu's proposed unity government would include all of Netanyahu's right-wing allies, but none of Gantz's centre-left allies. Gantz also refused to sit with Likud as long as Netanyahu is its leader, due to the criminal cases against Netanyahu.

Yisrael Beiteinu, under its leader Avigdor Lieberman, called for a secular unity government composed of itself, Likud, and Blue and White, and that would specifically exclude Netanyahu's right-wing and religious allies. As Lieberman's party holds the balance of power in the Knesset, analysts identified such a coalition as the most viable option.

Recommendations (September 2019)

Israeli government formation, September 2019

22 September 2019
 
Nominee Benjamin Netanyahu Benny Gantz
Party Likud Blue and White
Electoral vote 55 54

Prime minister before election

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

Outcome of formation

No government formed and fresh elections called. Netanyahu remains prime minister ad interim

President Rivlin met with representatives of Blue and White, Likud, the Joint List, Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu on 22 September to ask for recommendations on whom to select for prime minister. The next day, he met with members of United Torah Judaism, Yamina, Labor-Gesher and the Democratic Union.[15]

Party Party Leader Seats Recommended Source
Blue & White Benny Gantz 33 Gantz [16]
Likud Benjamin Netanyahu 32 Netanyahu [16]
Joint List Ayman Odeh 13 divided [17][18]
HadashAyman Odeh5Gantz[18]
Ta'alAhmad Tibi2Gantz[18]
United Arab ListMansour Abbas3Gantz[18]
BaladMtanes Shehadeh3No-one[17][19]
Shas Aryeh Deri 9 Netanyahu [16]
Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman 8 No-one [20]
UTJ Yaakov Litzman 7 Netanyahu [18]
Yamina Ayelet Shaked 7 Netanyahu [18]
Labor-Gesher Amir Peretz 6 Gantz [21]
Democratic Union Nitzan Horowitz 5 Gantz [20]

Rivlin officially chose Netanyahu to form the next government on 25 September,[22] though he conditioned it on Netanyahu giving back the mandate if he failed to form a government, in order to avoid another dissolution of the Knesset.[23]

Netanyahu agreed to this stipulation, and called for a "unity government" between himself, his allied religious parties, and Gantz. Gantz refused, on the basis that he had promised during the election not to join a Netanyahu-led coalition, and furthermore that a coalition that included all of Netanyahu's allies would not truly be a unity government. Efforts to resolve the deadlock were unsuccessful, and on 21 October Netanyahu returned the mandate to Rivlin.[24] On 23 October, Rivlin's office tasked Gantz with forming a government;[25] this mandate was given back to Rivlin on 21 November.[26] From that day, MKs had three weeks in which they could choose to nominate any of themselves to serve as PM. The selected MK would have had to secure the support of 61 MKs.[27] However, no MK was able to form a government, and it was determined on 12 December that a third election would take place on 2 March 2020.[28]

Recommendations (March–April 2020)

Israeli government formation, March–April 2020

March–April 2020
 
Nominee Benny Gantz Benjamin Netanyahu
Party Blue and White Likud
Electoral vote 61 58
Subsequently nominated via a letter signed by 72 MKs
Investiture vote in favor 73
Investiture vote against 46

Prime minister before election

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

Outcome of formation

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

President Rivlin met with all elected parties and received their recommendations for prime minister on 15 March.[29] Rivlin gave Gantz the mandate to form a government on 16 March.[30]

Party Party Leader Seats Recommended Source
LikudBenjamin Netanyahu 36 Netanyahu [31]
Blue & WhiteBenny Gantz 33 Gantz [31]
Joint ListAyman Odeh 15 Gantz [31]
ShasAryeh Deri 9 Netanyahu [32]
UTJYaakov Litzman 7 Netanyahu [33]
Labor–Gesher–MeretzAmir Peretz 7 divided [29]
LaborAmir Peretz 3 Gantz [29]
MeretzNitzan Horowitz 3 Gantz [29]
GesherOrly Levy 1 No-one [29]
Yisrael BeiteinuAvigdor Lieberman 7 Gantz [34]
YaminaNaftali Bennett 6 Netanyahu [35]

Before the election, Gantz vowed to form a government that would not include Netanyahu.[36] Initially an attempt was made to form a minority government with external support from the Joint List, however this initiative promptly collapsed as MKs Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser announced they would vote against such a government, citing an electoral promise not to lean on the Joint List which includes "terror supporters" such as Balad. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Gantz reversed his stance and announced he was willing to support an emergency coalition with Netanyahu.[37] On 21 March, Netanyahu announced negotiations were completed for a national unity government with a rotating prime ministership where Netanyahu would serve first, and would later be replaced by Gantz, although Gantz denied this and claimed negotiations were still ongoing.[38] On 26 March, one day after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein resigned, Gantz instead agreed to become Speaker of the Knesset.[39][40] The fact that right-wingers in Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition agreed to support Gantz's bid to become speaker put the future of the Blue and White alliance in jeopardy. The same day Gantz was elected as the new Speaker of the Knesset by a margin of 74–18.[40]

On 27 March 2020, it was revealed that a major obstacle to a possible long-term alliance between Gantz and Netanyahu emerged with regard to implementing U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 13 news revealed that Gantz, despite previously claiming that he wanted to implement the peace plan, still wanted to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, which Trump and Netanyahu still opposed. Ravid stated that this would likely make the upcoming deal between Gantz and Netanyahu short-lived. As part of the proposed coalition deal between Netanyahu and Gantz, Gantz was to replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel after 18 months' government.[41] Gantz's term as prime minister-designate was going to end on 14 April,[42] though President Rivlin extended it until 15 April.[43]

Coalition government

On 20 April 2020, Gantz and Netanyahu announced that agreement on a unity government had been reached. The deal would involve both parties sharing power, and Gantz and Netanyahu taking turns being prime minister. Under the terms of the agreement Netanyahu is to be prime minister until October 2021, with Gantz serving as vice prime minister. After that time the men are to exchange roles. However, should Netanyahu leave the premiership early, Gantz is to take over the role. Several watchdog groups in Israel, including the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and other groups, reacted to the news by petitioning the Supreme Court to block the formation of the government due to the indictment of Netanyahu.[44]

On 7 May 2020, Netanyahu won the support of 72 MKs to form a government, with Rivlin giving Netanyahu a two-week mandate to form a government shortly after.[45] The parties who gave their support included Blue and White, Likud, Derekh Eretz, Gesher, Shas and United Torah Judaism as well as two of the three members of the Labor Party.[46]

Members of government

On 17 May 2020, the following were announced to the Knesset as members in the new government:[47]

Ministers

Portfolio Minister Party
Prime MinisterBenjamin NetanyahuLikud
Alternate Prime Minister, Minister of DefenseBenny GantzBlue and White
Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentAlon SchusterBlue and White
Minister of Aliyah and IntegrationPnina Tamano-ShataBlue and White
Minister of Community Empowerment and AdvancementOrly Levy-AbekasisGesher
Minister of CommunicationsYoaz Hendel (05/25/2020–12/16/2020)Derekh Eretz
Benny Gantz (12/16/2020–present)Blue and White
Minister of Housing and ConstructionYaakov Litzman (05/25/2020–09/15/2020)United Torah Judaism
Benjamin Netanyahu (09/15/2020–10/14/2020)Likud
Yitzhak Cohen (10/14/2020-11/15/2020)Shas
Yaakov Litzman (11/18/2020–present)United Torah Judaism
Minister of Culture and SportHili TropperBlue and White
Minister of Cyber and National Digital MattersDudi AmsalemLikud
Minister in the Defense MinistryMichael BitonBlue and White
Minister of Diaspora AffairsOmer YankelevichBlue and White
Minister of the EconomyAmir PeretzLabor
Blue and White (not an MK)
Minister of EducationYoav GallantLikud
Minister of Environmental ProtectionGila GamlielLikud
Minister of FinanceIsrael KatzLikud
Minister in the Finance MinistryYitzhak Cohen (10/14/2020-11/17/2020)Shas
Minister of Foreign AffairsGabi AshkenaziBlue and White
Minister of HealthYuli EdelsteinLikud
Minister of Higher EducationZe'ev Elkin (05/25/2020–12/27/2020)Likud
Yoav Galant (01/08/2021–present)Likud
Minister of WaterZe'ev Elkin (05/25/2020–12/27/2020)Likud
Yuval Steinitz (01/08/2021–present)Likud
Minister of IntelligenceEli CohenLikud
Minister of the Interior, Minister of the Development of the Negev and GalileeAryeh DeriShas
Minister of Jerusalem AffairsRafi PeretzThe Jewish Home
Minister of JusticeAvi Nissenkorn (17/05/2020–1/01/2021)Blue and White
Benny Gantz (01/01/2021–present)Blue and White
Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social ServicesItzik Shmuli (05/17/2020–02/03/2021)Labor
Benny Gantz (02/03/2021–present)Blue and White
Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and WaterYuval SteinitzLikud
Minister of Internal SecurityAmir OhanaLikud
Minister of Regional CooperationGilad Erdan (05/25/2020–07/05/2020)Likud
Ofir Akunis (07/06/2020–present)Likud
Minister of Religious AffairsYa'akov AvitanShas
Minister of Science and TechnologyYizhar Shai (05/17/2020-01/12/2021)Blue and White
Minister of Settlement AffairsTzipi Hotovely (05/25/2020–08/02/2020)Likud
Tzachi Hanegbi (08/03/2020–present)Likud
Minister for Social EqualityMeirav Cohen (05/17/2020–01/08/2021)Blue and White
Itzik Shmuli (01/08/2021–02/03/2021)Labor
Benny Gantz (02/03/2021–present)Blue and White
Minister of Strategic AffairsOrit Farkash-Hacohen (05/25/2020–11/30/2020)Blue and White
Michael Biton (11/30/2020–present)Blue and White
Minister of TourismAsaf Zamir (05/25/2020–10/06/2020)Blue and White
Orit Farkash-Hacohen (10/14/2020–present)Blue and White
Minister of TransportationMiri RegevLikud
Minister without portfolioTzachi Hanegbi (05/25/2020–08/02/2020)Likud

Deputy ministers

Portfolio Deputy Minister Party
Deputy Prime Minister's Office Fateen Mulla Likud
Deputy Minister of Finance Yitzhak Cohen (05/25/2020–10/14/2020; 11/23/2020–present) Shas
Deputy Minister of Internal Security Gadi Yevarkan Likud
Deputy Minister of Health Yoav Kisch Likud
Deputy Minister of Education Meir Porush United Torah Judaism
Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services Meshulam Nahari Shas
Deputy Minister of Interior Yoav Ben Tzur Shas
Deputy Minister of Transportation Uri Maklev United Torah Judaism

See also

References

  1. Holmes, Oliver (29 May 2019). "Israel to hold new elections after Netanyahu coalition talks fail". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  2. Staff writer (4 March 2020). "Right-wing bloc - 58 seats, Blue and White - 33". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  3. https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/israel-passes-proposal-dissolve-parliament-fourth-election-20201202.html
  4. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/knesset-officially-dissolves-israel-heads-to-new-elections/
  5. "Official: 23rd Knesset dissolved". Arutz Sheva. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  6. Liebermann, Oren (10 April 2019). "Netanyahu set for fifth term as Israel's leader as rival concedes defeat". CNN. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  7. Raoul Wootliff (16 April 2019). "Netanyahu secures majority backing after right-wing parties recommend him as PM". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  8. Lis, Jonathan (16 April 2019). "Netanyahu Set to Form Next Government After Most Parties Recommend Him to President". Haaretz. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. Staff writer (17 April 2019). "With plea for healing, president officially taps Netanyahu to form new coalition". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  10. "החרדים המליצו על נתניהו, אשכנזי: "לא ניכנס לממשלת אחדות"". maariv.co.il. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  11. "נתניהו השיג 65 ממליצים להרכבת הממשלה". ynet (in Hebrew). 16 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  12. "Phase 2 Results: Netanyahu 65, Gantz 45, Neither 10". knessetjeremy.com. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  13. Noa Landau (18 September 2019). "Real voter fraud will be a third Israel election. We shouldn't let it happen". Haaretz. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  14. Felicia Schwartz; Dov Lieber (19 September 2019). "Gantz Declares Win, Rejects Netanyahu's Call for Negotiations". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  15. Staff writer (19 September 2019). "Rivlin to begin consultations Sunday on tasking next prime minister". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  16. "LIVEBLOG: Gantz leads in votes for next Israeli PM after first day of talks". i24 News. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  17. Staff writer (26 September 2019). "Joint List leader says Gantz asked party to reduce support in tactical move". The Times of Israel.
  18. "Netanyahu expected to have first crack at forming Israeli government". i24 News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  19. "Israel election results: Three Arab lawmakers refuse to endorse Gantz; Netanyahu leads with 55 backers". Haaretz. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
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  21. "LIVEBLOG: Netanyahu, Gantz to meet Israeli president again on Wednesday". i24 News. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  22. "Israel elections: President Rivlin to tap incumbent Netanyahu to form govt". i24 News. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  23. Raoul Wootliff (25 September 2019). "Back to square one: New elections loom after Rivlin's unity bid falls short". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  24. Staff writer (21 October 2019). "Netanyahu tells president he can't form government; now it's Gantz's turn to try". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  25. Raoul Wootliff (23 October 2019). "Charged with forming coalition, Gantz asks Netanyahu to join, vows to heal rifts". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  26. Gil Hoffman (21 November 2019). "Rivlin hands over mandate, begs MKs to prevent third election". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  27. Staff writer (15 November 2019). "5 days before deadline, Gantz's chances of forming coalition seen as fading away". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  28. Staff writer (12 December 2019). "Israel calls another election for March 2, the third in a year". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  29. Chaim Levinson; Jonathan Lis; Jack Khoury (15 March 2020). "Benny Gantz to Get First Chance at Forming Government After Receiving Thin Majority". Haaretz. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  30. Gil Hoffman (16 March 2020). "Rivlin gives Gantz mandate to form government". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  31. Gil Hoffman (15 March 2020). "Joint List endorses Gantz to form government". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  32. Bachner, Michael (15 March 2020). "Shas recommends Netanyahu as MK, urges broad unity government". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  33. "United Torah Judaism backs Netanyahu to form next government". Ynet. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  34. Bachner, Michael (15 March 2020). "Liberman backs Gantz, hopes for emergency government". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  35. "Yamina recommends Netanyahu, says no unity with Joint List". The Times of Israel. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  36. "Israel's Gantz vows to form government without Netanyahu". Politico. Associated Press. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  37. Wootliff, Raoul (22 March 2020). "Gantz: Unity government needed now, I'm waiting for Netanyahu to okay talks". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  38. Gil Hoffman (22 March 2020). "Netanyahu says unity deal with Blue and White reached". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  39. "Blue & White in turmoil as Gantz stands for Knesset speaker with right-wing support". ynetnews. 26 March 2020.
  40. Gil Hoffman (2 April 2020). "Blue and White splits as unity deal with Likud approaches". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  41. Ravid, Barak (27 March 2020). "Trump peace plan a sticking point in Israel's Netanyahu-Gantz pact". Axios. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  42. Gur, Haviv Retig (1 April 2020). "Netanyahu faces a rebellion on the right as new government takes shape". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  43. Hoffman, Gil (14 April 2020). "Netanyahu, Gantz to continue talks in morning to close deal". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  44. Gil Hoffman (21 April 2020). "The deal is done: Netanyahu, Gantz ink coalition pact". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  45. Staff writer (7 May 2020). "Netanyahu gets nod from Rivlin to form government, seemingly cementing rule". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  46. Rina Bassist (9 May 2020). "Netanyahu's future coalition, without the settlers?". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  47. Twenty-Third Knesset: Government 35 Knesset
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