Thirty-fourth government of Israel

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Fourth Netanyahu cabinet

34th Cabinet of Israel
The ministers of the government, and president Reuven Rivlin
Date formed14 May 2015 (2015-05-14)
Date dissolved17 May 2020 (2020-05-17)
People and organisations
Head of stateReuven Rivlin
Head of governmentBenjamin Netanyahu
No. of ministers21
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyZionist Union, Blue and White
Opposition leaders
History
Election(s)2015 Knesset election
Legislature term(s)20th, 21st and 22nd Knessets
Outgoing formation2019–2022 political crisis
Predecessor33rd government
Successor35th government

The thirty-fourth government of Israel, also known as the Fourth Netanyahu Government,[1] was the government of Israel, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu between 2015 and 2020.[needs update] It was formed after the March 2015 Knesset election. The coalition that made up the government, consisting of Likud, United Torah Judaism, Shas, Kulanu and the Jewish Home, was submitted to the President of Israel just before the deadline on 6 May 2015. Government ministers were introduced, approved by the Knesset and sworn in on 14 May. Deputy ministers were sworn in on 19 May. On 29 December 2018, the newly formed New Right party became a coalition partner, after splitting from the Jewish Home.

Between them, the coalition parties held 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. The elections that led to the formation of the government were a result of events on 2 December 2014, when Netanyahu dismissed two of his ministers, whose parties' members subsequently resigned from the 33rd government, dissolving the government ahead of schedule.[2][3]

During the 34th government, several corruption cases arose in regards to Netanyahu. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked stated that even if indicted, Netanyahu would still be able to continue as Prime Minister.[4] On 26 December 2018, Knesset members officially passed a law dispersing the Knesset.[5] The Knesset reassembled following the April 2019 Israeli legislative election, only to be dispersed once again on 30 May 2019 after Netanyahu failed to form a new cabinet.[6][7][8]

Policy guidelines[edit]

The policy guidelines for the 34th government included, but were not limited to:[9]

  • Strengthening the rule of law
  • Reducing the cost of living
  • Increasing competition, especially in the financial sector, and granting easier access to credit for small and medium businesses
  • Integrating disabled persons into society, in providing education and employment aid
  • Advancing the peace process with the Palestinians and other neighbors, while keeping Israel's national interests

Recommendations[edit]

Israeli government formation, March–May 2015

← 2013 31 March–14 May 2015 2019 →
 
Nominee Benjamin Netanyahu Isaac Herzog
Party Likud Zionist Union
Electoral vote 67 29
Percentage 55.8% 24.2%

Prime Minister before election

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

Elected Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud

Party Party Leader Seats Recommended
Likud Benjamin Netanyahu 30 Benjamin Netanyahu
Zionist Union Isaac Herzog 24 Isaac Herzog
Joint List Ayman Odeh 13 No one
Yesh Atid Yair Lapid 11 No one
Kulanu Moshe Kahlon 10 Benjamin Netanyahu
The Jewish Home Naftali Bennett 8 Benjamin Netanyahu
Shas Aryeh Deri 7 Benjamin Netanyahu
Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman 6 Benjamin Netanyahu
UTJ Yaakov Litzman 6 Benjamin Netanyahu
Meretz Zehava Gal-On 5 Isaac Herzog

Terms of coalition agreements are considered binding law in Israel.[10] As such, parties must adhere to the agreements made with the Prime Minister when the coalition was formed.

Changes to the responsibilities of official positions include the relinquishment of the Justice Minister's ability to appoint judges to religious courts. Also, the Religious Affairs Minister will not have control over affairs connected to conversion to Judaism; that will be under the purview of the Prime Minister's office.

Coalition agreements[edit]

President Reuven Rivlin (right) assigned the task of forming the new government to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) in an official ceremony held on 25 March 2015.

Kulanu[edit]

Kulanu agreed to support the implementation of the Norwegian Law, allowing members of the Knesset to exit the Knesset upon receiving a post in the cabinet.[11]

Likud agreed to raise the salary of soldiers, give unemployment insurance to self-employed workers and set a biennial budget by October 2015.[12]

Kulanu was also permitted to vote against the coalition if it disagreed with legislation that would reform the Israeli Supreme Court.

The Jewish Home[edit]

The agreement included an increase of NIS 630 million ($163.4 million) for the education budget, an allocation of NIS 1 billion ($259 million) to raise soldiers' pay during their third year of service, a budget increase for Ariel University, which is in the West Bank, and support for the so-called NGO bill.[13]

The agreement also stipulated that all obligations and commitments made to increase Haredi institutions will have to come from the Finance Ministry, not the Education Ministry.

Cabinet members[edit]

On 30 May 2019,[6] Netanyahu failed to form a new cabinet following disputes with former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and a vote to temporarily dissolve the Knesset until another election can be held in September 2019 was passed.[6][7][8] The current Cabinet, which is inactive in its full duties so long as the Knesset is dissolved, includes:

Portfolio Minister Party
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Likud
Minister of Defense
Moshe Ya'alon (5/14/15-5/22/16) Likud
Benjamin Netanyahu (5/22/16-5/30/16) Likud
Avigdor Lieberman (5/30/16-11/18/18) Yisrael Beiteinu
Benjamin Netanyahu (11/18/18-11/8/19) Likud
Naftali Bennett (11/8/19-Present)[14] New Right
Minister of Foreign Affairs[15]
Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy
Yisrael Katz Likud
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration
Ze'ev Elkin (5/14/15-5/30/16) Likud
Sofa Landver (5/30/16-11/18/18) Yisrael Beiteinu
Benjamin Netanyahu (11/18/18-12/24/18) Likud
Yariv Levin (12/24/18-1/9/19) Likud
Yoav Gallant (1/9/19-Present) Likud
Minister of Construction Yoav Gallant (5/14/15-1/2/19) Kulanu
Yifat Shasha-Biton (1/2/19-Present) Kulanu
Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev (5/14/15-Present) Likud
Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee
Aryeh Deri Shas
Minister of Religious Affairs Yitzhak Vaknin[16] Shas
Minister of the Economy Aryeh Deri (5/14/15-8/1/16) Shas
Benjamin Netanyahu (11/3/15-8/1/16) Likud
Moshe Kahlon (8/1/16-1/23/17) Kulanu
Eli Cohen (1/23/17-Present) Likud
Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon Likud
Minister of Health Benjamin Netanyahu (5/14/15-8/27/15; 11/28/17-12/29/19) Likud
Yaakov Litzman (8/27/15-11/28/17; 12/29/19-Present) United Torah Judaism
Minister of Jerusalem
Minister of Environmental Protection
Ze'ev Elkin Likud
Minister of Internal Security
Minister of Strategic Affairs
Minister of Information
Gilad Erdan Likud
Minister of Tourism[17] Yariv Levin Likud
Minister of Justice
Ayelet Shaked (5/14/15-6/2/19) New Right
Amir Ohana (6/2/19-Present)[18] Likud
Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Yuval Steinitz Likud
Minister of Regional Cooperation
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Tzachi Hanegbi Likud
Minister of Science and Technology
Minister of Welfare and Social Services
Ofir Akunis Likud
Minister for Senior Citizens Gila Gamliel Likud
Minister of Communications Dudi Amsalem Likud
Minister of Education Naftali Bennett (5/14/15-6/2/19) New Right
Rafi Peretz (6/2/19-Present) URWP
Minister of Transportation Israel Katz (5/14/15-6/17/19) Likud
Bezalel Smotrich (6/17/19-Present) URWP
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Tzipi Hotovely Likud

Deri resigned his post as Minister of the Economy, reportedly over an unpopular gas monopoly deal. Netanyahu took over the portfolio, and promised to speed up the deal.[citation needed] Netanyahu resigned his post as Minister of Communications following an investigation into his relationship with the media, and was replaced temporarily by Tzachi Hanegbi.[19] The Ministry for Senior Citizens was renamed Ministry for Social Equality in August, 2015.

Deputy ministers[edit]

Portfolio Minister Party
Deputy Minister of Defense Eli Ben-Dahan (Before 10/3/19) The Jewish Home
Avi Dichter (After 10/3/19) Likud
Deputy Minister of Education Meir Porush United Torah Judaism
Deputy Minister of Interior Meshulam Nahari Shas
Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services Meshulam Nahari Shas

Security cabinet[edit]

Minister Party
Benjamin Netanyahu (chairman) Likud
Naftali Bennett New Right
Amir Ohana Likud
Gilad Erdan Likud
Moshe Kahlon Kulanu
Yisrael Katz Likud
Yoav Gallant Likud
Aryeh Deri Shas
Bezalel Smotrich Union of the Right-Wing Parties
Eli Cohen Likud
Yuval Steinitz Likud
Ze'ev Elkin Likud
Rafi Peretz Union of the Right-Wing Parties

Committee chairs[edit]

Committee Chairman Party
Economic Affairs Committee Eitan Cabel Zionist Union
Education, Culture, and Sports Committee Ya'akov Margi Shas
Ethics Committee Yitzhak Vaknin Shas
Finance Committee Moshe Gafni United Torah Judaism
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Avi Dichter (Before 10/3/19) Likud
Gabi Ashkenazi (since 10/3/19) Blue and White
House Committee David Bitan Likud
Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Avraham Neguise Likud
Internal Affairs and Environment Committee Dudu Amsalem Likud
Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Eli Alaluf Kulanu
Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Nissan Slomiansky The Jewish Home
Science and Technology Committee Uri Maklev United Torah Judaism
State Control Committee Karin Elharar Yesh Atid
Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality Aida Touma-Suleiman Joint List
Special Committee for Discussion of the Public Broadcast Bill 2015 Stav Shaffir Zionist Union
Special Committee for Public Petitions Yisrael Eichler United Torah Judaism
Special Committee for the Rights of the Child Yifat Shasha-Biton Kulanu
Special Committee for the Transparency and Accessibility of Government Information Stav Shaffir Zionist Union
Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Tamar Zandberg Meretz
Special Committee to Discuss the National Authority for Urban Renewal Bill Eli Cohen Kulanu
Source: Knesset

Government agencies and special committees[edit]

Agency / Committee Chairman Party
Israel Land Administration Yoav Gallant[original research?] Likud
World Zionist Organization’s Settlement Division Avraham Duvdevani
Israel Atomic Energy Commission Zeev Shnir[original research?]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ממשלת נתניהו השלישית: מפלגת השלטון הופכת". NRG. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Israeli government agrees to hold early elections in April". The Guardian. Associated Press. 24 December 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Israel to hold early elections as Knesset is dissolved". Financial Times. 24 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Netanyahu wouldn't have to quit if indicted, Shaked says". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Knesset Speaker: I will not let session end until bill to disperse passes". The Jerusalem Post.
  6. ^ a b c Oster, Marcy (30 May 2019). "What comes next as Israel's Knesset votes to dissolve itself, declare new elections?". sun-sentinel.com.
  7. ^ a b "After Netanyahu Fails to Form Government, Israel to Hold New Election". Haaretz. 30 May 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Netanyahu's future clouded by rivalry with former ally". AP News. 30 May 2019.
  9. ^ Tuval, Uri (13 May 2015). "Promise to Keep Status of High Court Removed from Government Policy Guideline Document". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Bennett rejects US comments on 'Jewish state' bill". Times of Israel. the present government's coalition agreement, which has the binding legal status of a contract
  11. ^ Azulay, Moran (4 May 2015). "Contents of coalition agreements with UTJ, Kulanu revealed". ynet.
  12. ^ "Securing first partners, Likud inks coalition deals with Kulanu, UTJ". The Times of Israel.
  13. ^ "Jewish Home makes it official with Likud deal". The Times of Israel.
  14. ^ https://www.jpostcom/Breaking-News/Naftali-Bennett-to-be-Defense-Minster-607285[dead link]
  15. ^ "Yisrael Katz Becomes Israel's Minister Of Foreign Affairs". 17 February 2019.
  16. ^ https://www.knesset.gov.il/govt/eng/GovtByNumber_eng.asp?govt=34[bare URL]
  17. ^ "Yariv Levin named new immigration and absorption minister". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  18. ^ "Netanyahu appoints Amir Ohana justice minister, first openly gay cabinet member". www.timesofisrael.com.
  19. ^ Wootliff, Raoul. "Netanyahu resigns as communications minister amid probe into media scam". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 26 February 2021.

External links[edit]