[ ]J Street [ ]
Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you from Israel, where for the first time in 12 years,
we’ve woken up to a new Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is officially
out of the prime minister’s chair, with his government replaced by a
complex new coalition headed by right-wing hardliner Naftali Bennett.

Although Bennett will serve first in a rotation agreement with center-left
leader Yair Lapid, he’ll be far more constrained in his actions than
Netanyahu was since he must maintain the backing of a much broader cabinet
and coalition. Parties in the new government span the ideological spectrum
from progressive to Islamist to centrist to far-right, united by the
common goal of defeating Netanyahu -- and little else.

The policies and longevity of the new government will depend on what
common consensus can be formed between a group of parties who have
conflicting views on many key issues, but must work together to maintain a
61 seat majority government.

Below, we've included a rundown of exactly who’s who in the new
coalition. Feel free to forward this to friends and family who may be
interested. [ [link removed] ]Of course, they can join J Street themselves here!

Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister

[2]Naftali Bennett 

Bennett and his party Yamina are affiliated with the religious Zionist
movement and closely tied to the settlement movement as well. They are
situated on the right or far-right on issues related to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They support the annexation of much of the
West Bank with Bennett going as far as to say that Palestinian statehood
would be “national suicide” for Israel. He celebrated Donald Trump’s
election by claiming “the era of a Palestinian state is over!”

With six seats, Yamina will have three ministers: Bennet as PM, Ayelet
Shaked as Minister of Interior and Matan Kahana as Minister of Religions.

Yair Lapid, Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister

[3]Yair Lapid 

The largest party in the new governing coalition, Yesh Atid, is a
center-left party. Lapid led the complex and successful negotiations to
bring this coalition together. He campaigned on ending corruption,
strengthening oversight and limiting the power of the ultra-Orthodox in
Israeli society. Yesh Atid favors a two-state solution and may seek to
limit the construction of new settlements, though the Israeli-Palestinian
issue is far from their top priority.

With 17 seats Yesh Atid will have seven ministers: Lapid as Minister of
Foreign Affairs, and (after the rotation with Bennett) as Prime Minister,
Merav Cohen as Minister for Social Equality, Yoel Razbozov as Minister of
Tourism, Karin Elharar as Minister of Energy, Meir Cohen as Minister of
Welfare, Orna Barbivay as Minister of Economy and Elazar Stern as Minister
of Intelligence. Yesh Atid will also have Miki Levy as Speaker of the
Knesset.

Benny Gantz, Defense Minister

[4]Benny Gantz 

Gantz was Netanyahu’s main opponent through a series of elections in 2019
and 2020, but ultimately joined with Netanyahu to form a unity government
as the pandemic intensified. That controversial move split his party’s
alliance with Yesh Atid and angered many of their voters. He will remain
Defense Minister in the incoming government, a position with significant
authority over the occupied territories. Blue and White is not
pro-settlement per se, but the party has said in the past that it plans to
strengthen the main settlement blocs in the West Bank.

With eight seats, Blue and White will have four ministers: Gantz as
Minister of Defense, Pnina Tamano-Shata as Minister of Absorption and
Immigration, Hili Tropper as Minister of Culture and Sports and Orit
Farkash Cohen as Minister of Science and Innovation.

Merav Michaeli, Minister of Transportation

[5]Merav Michaeli 

The Labor Party, once the most dominant force in Israeli politics, has
flirted with electoral oblivion in recent elections. Now, however, the
party is relatively resurgent under the progressive, unapologetically
anti-Netanyahu leadership of Merav Michaeli, who campaigned on gender
equality, economic justice and supporting a two-state solution. While
Labor does not tend to prioritize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the
party is likely to be a voice against settlement expansion and other
destructive measures.

With seven seats, Labor will have three ministers: Michaeli as Minister
for Transportation, Omer Barlev as Minister of Internal Security and
Nachman Shai as Minister for Diaspora Affairs.

Nitzan Horowitz, Minister of Health

[6]Nitzan Horowitz 

Meretz is the most ideologically and vocally progressive member of the
coalition, offering loud and enthusiastic support for a Palestinian state
and Palestinian equality in Israel. They will likely be one of the few
members of the coalition consistently raising concerns about the ongoing
occupation and the cycle of injustice and violence. The party also
campaigns on equal rights, social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and action on
climate change and will be in charge of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection. Its leader Nitzan Horowitz is the first openly gay leader of a
major Israeli political party.

With six seats, Meretz will have three ministers: Horowitz as Minister of
Health, Tamar Zandberg as Minister for the Environment and Issawi Frej as
Minister for Regional Cooperation.

Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister

[7]Gideon Sa’ar 

The New Hope Party is on the opposite side of the coalition’s ideological
spectrum from Meretz. Sa’ar is a former leading member of Netanyahu’s
Likud Party who split off in the midst of Netanyahu’s corruption trials in
an attempt to create a new, Netanyahu-less Likud. New Hope is committed to
permanent control of the West Bank, supports settlement expansion and
opposes Palestinian statehood.

With six seats, New Hope will have four ministers: Sa’ar as Minister of
Justice, Yifat Shasha Biton as Minister for Education, Zeev Elkin as
Minister of Housing and Yoaz Hendel as Minister of Communication.

Avigdor Lieberman, Finance Minister

[8]Avigdor Lieberman 

Lieberman is another former Netanyahu disciple who has positioned himself
as something of a powerbroker and wildcard in the making and breaking of
governments. His party, supported primarily by Israel’s large minority of
Russian and Soviet immigrants, is right-wing on many issues. Lieberman
himself has trafficked in anti-Arab rhetoric, but tends to focus on
domestic issues and works with secular Israeli parties in countering the
influence of the ultra-orthodox.

With seven seats, Yisrael Beiteinu will have three ministers: Lieberman as
Minister of Finance, Oded Furer as Minister of Agriculture and Hammed Amar
as Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

Mansour Abbas

[9]Mansour Abbas 

For the first time in decades, this Israeli government will include a
party of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel. Ra’am is a socially
conservative Islamist party that finds some common ground with
conservative Israeli Jews. Ra’am’s support for the coalition hinges on
promises to benefit Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel in urban planning,
housing and protection from violence. Abbas is also looking to repeal
discriminatory laws which privilege Jewish Israelis to the detriment of
Arab Israelis.

Despite holding four seats, Ra'am will have no ministers in the new
government. They will, however, have a significant say in policies related
to Palestinian citizens of Israel.

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With such a broad mix of parties, agreeing on a common agenda going
forward will be difficult. Israeli coalitions don’t have the best track
record for sustainability at the best of times, and this one can be
assured to face unrelenting and incendiary attacks by Netanyahu as Leader
of the Opposition.

As this new government finds its feet and seeks to craft a policy agenda,
we at J Street will do all that we can to stand with and strengthen our
Israeli allies who continue to advocate for the rights of both Israelis
and Palestinians to freedom, security, equality and self-determination --
both those who now have a foothold in government as well as the advocates
and activists working outside the Knesset. 

At this time, the signals sent from American policymakers have the
potential to make a significant impact on the decisions of this nascent
government. That’s why we’re pushing for our leaders in the United States
to make a clean break with the failed policies of the past and commit to
articulating and supporting a vision of the future that guarantees the
right to peace, security and self-determination to both Israelis and
Palestinians.

Yours,

Nadav Tamir,
Executive Director, J Street Israel

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