Yair Lapid Announces Success in Forming a New Government, Minutes Before the Expiration of his Mandate, That Means the End of Netanyahu’s Government: the announcement came after long and intense negotiations between Lapid, Chair of Yesh Atid, and his coalition partners, representing a broad range of political views. According to the coalition agreement, Naftali Bennet, Chair of the right-wing Yemina party, will be the first to serve as Prime Minister for a period of two years in a rotation government. The announcement was met with both excitement by the “change bloc”, and with disappointment and harsh criticism by Netanyahu loyalists and the Haredi parties, who were disappointed at losing power. The new government is scheduled to be sworn in within 12 days, and there are still many obstacles to overcome with disagreements to be settled. Yet, the establishment of the new government, albeit on paper, marks an unprecedented event; for the first time in the history of the state of Israel, an Arab Muslim party is a signatory to and an active member of a coalition government.
Efforts to form the new government were accompanied by extreme pressure from Netanyahu and his loyalists, especially on members of the Yamina party who were identified as the most prone to respond to pressure to withdraw from or oppose the formation of the new government. This is especially so when considering the perception of the far-reaching demands of the Ra’am Arab-Muslim party, on issues of land and budget allocations, and the recognition of Bedouin communities in the Negev. Bennet and Shaked, the party leaders, received death threats and were both assigned security details by the Central Security Service. MK Tamar Zandberg of Meretz also received explicit threats to her life and her children’s lives, including her baby girl. Protestors, from both the anti and pro Netanyahu camps, held daily vigils near the homes of prominent leaders of the forming government and outside the building where negotiations were held.
One of the main issues on the table was the composition of the judicial appointment committee. Ayelet Shaked, former minister of justice, and one of the most vocal advocates for a more conservative and constrained supreme court demanded the ministerial seat at the committee, already assigned to Merav Michaeli, Chair of the Labor Party. Left-wing partners in the new coalition also agreed to make far reaching concessions on LGBTQI rights, to secure the support of the Arab Muslim party.
When the new government is sworn in, it will have eight female ministers, out of 20, the highest in the history of Israeli governments.
If they fail to finalize agreements with all the coalition partners, then a fifth round of elections will be the next most feasible option.
Isaac Herzog Elected as the 11th President of Israel among 120 MK (Members of Knesset): Herzog won by a substantial majority, 86 votes to the 27 votes for the other contender, Miriam Peretz. Political leaders from all parties, as well as prominent world leaders, were quick to congratulate him. Analysts commented that since this was a secret vote, Herzog was elected by members of most, if not all, of the Knesset parties. Analysts and the public voiced their appreciation to both Herzog and Peretz for conducting clean and positive campaigns, and commended Peretz for her dignified speech after losing the race. Herzog will enter office in one month and will be the first president who is the son of a former president, Haim Herzog, the 6th president. The race for his successor as Chair of the Jewish Agency has already begun.
Egypt is Leading Negotiation Talks Between Israel and Hamas in Order to Enable a Longterm Ceasefire and Exchange of POWs: High ranking Egyptian officials visited Israel and the Palestinian Authority and meetings were held in Cairo among the different players: Israel, Palestinian Authority and Hamas, in order to reach an agreed upon settlement that will secure a long term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and may bring a deal to exchange the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and two civilians who crossed the border into Gaza by mistake, for Palestinian prisoners. These negotiations have only begun and it is still unclear if the parties can reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, some media outlets reported on Friday morning that Hamas issued an ultimatum threatening to resume rocket fire on Israeli targets if Israel continues to forbid Qatar sending its’ monthly financial support to Gaza. Since Hamas is on the list of terrorists organizations, it can’t use the banking systems to transfer money. Qatar finances Hamas employees by sending cash on a monthly basis. This is supported by Israel, who wants to avoid famine in Gaza, as the Qatar money helps maintain the very poor economy there. Israel wishes now to make a change by transferring the money via the Palestinian Authority as a means to strengthen its’ power in the internal Palestinian political field.
Israel Has Lifted Most of its COVID-19 Restrictions: Both the high vaccination rates and the low new infection rates allowed health authorities to lift most of the restrictions, except for wearing masks in closed spaces and restrictions on the entry to Israel at the airport and other borders.
Cinema theaters were reopened in addition to all other entertainment venues, and the country is more-or-less back to normal again.
Israel Marks Pride Month: The Pride Parade was held in Jerusalem on Thursday after a two year hiatus. An estimated 7,500 people marched in the streets of Jerusalem. LGBTQ rights were at the center of the election campaign in the negotiations towards forming the new coalitions: there are deep disagreements between the parties in the new coalition on this matter. Left-wing and center parties push strongly for more equality for the community, while Muslim parties in the coalition and right-wing parties are against any legislation on the matter.
For Further Reading:
New Government: Here, here, here, here , here
New President: Here, here, here