As coalition talks begin, party leaders issue demands to Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu kickstarted coalition talks on Sunday, meeting with party leaders and senior lawmakers from the far-right and ultra-orthodox parties. 

While Netanyahu is expected to receive the mandate from President Isaac Herzog this week, his coalition partners have begun issuing demands and conditions for entering the government.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the no.2 in Religious Zionism and leader of the Jewish Power party, has demanded to be named Public Security Minister, and reportedly asked Netanyahu during their first public meeting on Monday for his party colleague, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, to receive either the Education or Transportation Ministry portfolio.

Ben-Gvir also demanded a promise in writing to reform the judicial system, with the most pressing issue being to prevent the High Court of Justice from overturning laws passed in Knesset.

The ultra-orthodox United Torah Judaism party has issued a similar demand, according to Israeli media.

This legal reform would pave the way for a number of controversial laws to be passed, such as granting army exemption for ultra-orthodox, and abolish the offences of fraud and breach of trust for lawmakers, both of which Netanyahu is indicted for in all three corruption cases he is currently on trial for.

Senior portfolios 

Religious Zionism leader Betzalel Smotrich met Netanyahu on Sunday, and has previously expressed an interest in becoming Finance Minister. Top Likud lawmaker Israel Katz, however, said he expects to be named Finance Minister, a position he has previously held.

Given Smotrich’s party being the second largest in the coalition after Likud, a more senior portfolio could be given to him, such as Defence or Justice Minister, with the former reportedly being what the far-right leader has his eyes on.

Smotrich, however, has no significant military experience, causing experts to speculate that Netanyahu prefers giving the Defence portfolio to his party colleague, Yoav Gallant, who has previously served as Deputy IDF Chief of Staff.

Inside Likud, lawmaker Danny Danon has been the first to publicly issue a demand to Netanyahu, asking to be named Knesset Speaker.

“I conveyed a very clear message. I come with a lot of experience, both at the parliamentary level and at the political level. I marked the position of Knesset speaker for me, not the position of coalition chairman, and I think I am the most suitable,” Danon said.

Meanwhile Netanyahu’s right-hand man, Likud lawmaker Yariv Levin, is expected to be the lead candidate for Justice Minister, receiving official backing from his colleague David Amsalem, who previously demanded to receive that post.

Netanyahu is expected to formally receive the mandate from President Herzog to form a government, after the latter has received all party leaders’ recommendations for prime minister on Wednesday.