BICOM

With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu re-elected, the attention of the Israeli media has turned to what will be the make-up of his new cabinet.

Israeli coalition negotiations can be complicated as the Prime Minister must address the competing demands of his coalition partners as well as colleagues in own party. According to reports carried in Israel Hayom and Ynet, Netanyahu is planning to cancel the law passed in the last Knesset to limit the number of cabinet ministers to 18. This will presumably help him to provide seats in the government for both loyalists in his Likud Party and senior figures in other parties in the coalition.

The move has already been strongly criticised by former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who pushed for the law in the last Knesset as part of his Yesh Atid party’s pledge to cut unnecessary government bureaucracy. His party will this time not be in the governing coalition and will sit as part of the opposition.

According to media reports, the only two ministerial positions which seem assured are the roles of finance minister, which will go to Moshe Kahlon leader of the new centrist Kulanu party, and defence minister, which looks like remaining with Moshe Ya’alon, a close ally of the Prime Minister in the Likud.