The 37th Government of Israel Was Finally Sworn In on Thursday: After a long political negotiation process the new government was finally established. With 36 ministers and deputy ministers, only five women in relatively minor offices, with a majority of ministers who are orthodox observant Jews, with at least three ministers in roles to strengthen Jewish identity and Jewish tradition, with priorities that place control over the occupied West Bank, Judea and Samaria, at the top of the list with more budgets, legalizing currently illegal outposts, infrastructure, and enacting Israeli civil law over the Israeli settlers living there.
The new coalition elected the first gay man for speaker of the house. When he delivered his first speech and was sworn-in, most of the ministers from the orthodox religious parties turned their heads so as to avoid looking at him speaking about his husband and family.
The swearing-in event at the Knesset was accompanied by a large demonstration outside. Thousands of citizens protested against the spirit and ideology of the new government that revealed extremely conservative views in terms of women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and equality for the Arab minority.
The new government has a majority of 64 out of 120 MKs in the Knesset.
Meanwhile, a growing number of communities, groups and organizations are protesting against the intentions of the new government, and have published petitions against the new worrying trends as they see them: former justices, high-tech companies, all academic institutions, former senior air force pilots and other veterans, physicians, hospitals, former Israeli ambassadors and Israeli diplomats, banks and commercial companies. Most of them protest against the intention to narrow and shrink the rights of the LGBTQ community, others express their concern at the intention to dramatically change the balance between the executive agencies and judicial system, and give more power to the politicians over the judicial branch.
Coalition Agreements Reveal Racist and Homophobic Legislative Initiatives: in the days leading up to the swearing in of the new government, the media reported on several legislative initiatives stipulated in the coalition agreements. Two of them made headlines this week: the repeal of the ban on racism in the platforms of parties running for elections, and an amendment to the anti-discrimination clause in the goods and services law.
The Likud and Jewish Power parties agreed to repeal the ban on racism, an amendment to the Knesset Basic Law. The amendment was introduced and passed by the Likud party in the mid 80’s, to prevent parties that advocate racism or deny the existence of Israel as a Jewish state from running in national elections. The new coalition has the majority required to repeal the ban, which will allow far-right parties and candidates to be elected to the Knesset and possibly serve in government.
The requested amendment to the anti-discrimination clause in provision of goods and services is included in the agreement between the Likud party and the Ultra-Orthodox Yahadut Hatorah party. It is designed to allow business owners to refuse services to customers based on the business owners religious beliefs. Two members of Knesset from the far-right Jewish Power party, Orit Strook and Simcha Rothman, said in media interviews, that under the amendment, a religious Jewish physician can refuse to provide medical treatment or procedure that goes against their religious belief. Also, a Jewish hotel owner may refuse to host gay people.
These statements were met with public uproar and widespread criticism from medical staff, corporations, financial and academic institutions, who announced that they are committed to serving everyone, regardless of race, religion, and sexual orientation, and that they will cut all ties with vendors or institutions who will discriminate against clients. Incoming PM Netanyahu issued a statement, clarifying that his government will not allow discrimination against any citizen.
Prior to the Swearing-in of the New Government, the New Coalition Passed an Amendment to a Basic Law, to Enable the Nomination of a Minister Who was Convicted of Fraud: Arye Deri, the head of the orthodox religious party Shas, was convicted of tax fraud in a plea deal a few months ago, and was sentenced to probation. According to a clause in the basic law if a person was sentenced to prison, he is not allowed to be a minister for at least 7seven years. PM Netanyahu wanted and needed Shas as a partner party in the coalition, and the Shas condition was to clear Deri and enable him to serve as a minister. Some anti-corruption activists already appealed to the high court of justice against this nomination, and the court will have a discussion on the case next Thursday.
IDF (Israel defense force) Chief of Staff Expressed Concern About the Intent to Include a Political Figure in the Army Chain of Command: Aviv Kochavi, the current chief of staff made a rare call to meet with the new PM, Netanyahu. Kochavi, whose term will end in a month, wanted to express his and the army’s concerns about the new trends expressed by the new government. According to the political agreements of the new coalition, the border guard units will be subordinated to a political person, the minister for national security, the extremist Itamar Ben Gvir from Jewish Power. In addition, another extremist minister, Bezalel Smotrich from Religious Zionism will serve as a second defense minister and will be in charge of the civilian agencies responsible for all the residents in the West Bank, Jews and Palestinians alike. Israel is refraining so far from annexing the occupied territories, but this move is considered as a major step towards annexation.
Media Reveals Far-Right Party Blacklists: an investigative piece published by Israel’s most popular newspaper and online media outlet revealed that the far-right Noam party, a member of the incoming government, kept extensive records of LGBT media personas, feminist researchers, human rights lawyers, and public servants at the Ministry of Justice.
The Noam party has one seat in the Knesset, yet its chair, Avi Maoz, will soon be responsible for all extra-curricular educational programs in public schools. Maoz is known for his overt homophobic stand, and has, on several occasions spoken out against the inclusion of educational programs that promote LGBTQI rights.
In the documents kept by the Noam party, prominent feminist researchers are accused of seeking to weaken the Israeli Defense Force, with funding from antisemitic European sources. Another extensive report lists the names of dozens of human rights specialists and organizations that offered workshops to civil servants at the ministry of justice.
This current display of a “witch hunt” caused a public uproar in the media and in social media. Center-left members of Knesset organized an emergency conference in support of the LGBTQI community. Supporters of the incoming right-wing government tried to downplay the significance of the Noam party records, and emphasized the appointment of Amir Ohana, an openly gay member of the Likud party as new Speaker of the Knesset.
Further Reading:
New Government: Here, here, here
Homophobic legislation: Here, here, here, here, here
Chief of Staff: Here, here, here
Blacklists: Here, here, here