Руководство израиля сегодня

Биньямин Нетаньяху формально стал премьер-министром Израиля на шестой срок, его привели к присяге в качестве нового премьера. 37-е по счету правительство страны начало свою работу, пишет The Times of Israel.

Во время выступления в Кнессете Нетаньяху пообещал, что его коалиция обеспечит политическую стабильность в стране. Его слова звучат после пяти подряд выборов, прошедших в стране с 2019 года и только сейчас приведших к формированию правительства.

В сумме он пробыл главой правительства 15 лет, с 1996 по 1999 год и с 2009 по 2021 год. При этом Нетаньяху возглавлял большинство в правительстве три раза, а еще три раза он занимал свой пост, не формируя при этом большинства. С 2021 по 2022 год премьером был Нафтали Беннет, а после него — Яир Лапид (Нетаньяху, Беннет и Лапид занимали должности в последние годы по принципу ротации, пока ни один из них не мог набрать правительственное большинство).

Sixth Netanyahu cabinet
37th Cabinet of Israel
Incumbent
Ministers of the government with President Herzog
Date formed	29 December 2022
People and organisations
President	Isaac Herzog
Prime minister	Benjamin Netanyahu
No. of ministers	32[1]
Member parties	Likud Shas Religious Zionism United Torah Judaism Otzma Yehudit Noam
Status in legislature	Right-wing Coalition
Opposition parties	Yesh Atid National Unity Yisrael Beiteinu Ra’am Hadash–Ta’al Labor
Opposition leader	Yair Lapid
History
Election(s)	2022 Knesset election
Legislature term(s)	25th Knesset
Incoming formation	2018–2022 political crisis
Predecessor	36th government

The thirty-seventh government of Israel is the current cabinet of Israel, formed on 29 December 2022 following the Knesset election on 1 November 2022.^[2][3] The coalition government consists of six parties—Likud, United Torah Judaism, Shas, Religious Zionist Party, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam—and is led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has taken office as the Prime Minister of Israel for the sixth time.

Some of the government’s policy proposals have drawn widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally, sparking waves of protests across the country.

Background[edit]

The right-wing bloc of parties, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, known in Israel as the national camp, won 64 of the 120 seats in the elections for the Knesset, while the coalition led by the incumbent prime minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats.^[4] The new majority has been variously described as the most right-wing government in Israeli history,^[5] as well as Israel’s most religious government.^[6][7][8]

Shortly after the elections, Lapid conceded to Netanyahu,^[9] and congratulated him,^[10] wishing him luck «for the sake of the Israeli people».^[11] On 15 November, the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected members of the 25th Knesset was held during the opening session. The vote to appoint a new Speaker of the Knesset, which is usually conducted at the opening session, and the swearing in of cabinet members were postponed since ongoing coalition negotiations had not yet resulted in agreement on these positions.^[12][13][14]

Government formation[edit]

Israeli government formation, November 2022

← May 2021 November 2022

Nominee Benjamin Netanyahu Yair Lapid Party Likud Yesh Atid Electoral vote 64 29[15]

Prime Minister before election Yair Lapid Yesh Atid Prime Minister After Benjamin Netanyahu Likud

On 3 November 2022, Netanyahu told his aide Yariv Levin to begin informal coalition talks with allied parties, after 97% of the vote was counted.^[16] The leader of the Shas party Aryeh Deri met with Yitzhak Goldknopf, the leader of United Torah Judaism and its Agudat Yisrael faction, on 4 November. The two parties agreed to cooperate as members of the next government.^[17][18] The Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism stated on 5 November that it will maintain its ideological stance about not seeking any ministerial posts, as per the instruction of its spiritual leader Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, but will seek other senior posts like Knesset committee chairmen and deputy ministers.^[19]

Netanyahu himself started holding talks on 6 November. He first met with Moshe Gafni, the leader of Degel HaTorah, and then with Goldknopf. Meanwhile, the Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich and the leader of its Otzma Yehudit faction Itamar Ben-Gvir pledged that they would not enter the coalition without the other faction. Gafni later met with Smotrich for coalition talks.^[18] Smotrich then met with Netanyahu. On 7 November, Netanyahu met with Ben-Gvir who demanded the Ministry of Public Security with expanded powers for himself and the Ministry of Education or Transport and Road Safety for Yitzhak Wasserlauf.^[20] A major demand among all of Netanyahu’s allies was that the Knesset be allowed to ignore the rulings of the Supreme Court.^[21] Netanyahu met with the Noam faction leader and its sole MK Avi Maoz on 8 November after he threatened to boycott the coalition. He demanded complete control of the Western Wall by the Haredi rabbinate and removal of what he considered as anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish content in schoolbooks.^[22]

President Isaac Herzog began consultations with heads of all the political parties on 9 November after the election results were certified.^[23] During the consultations, he expressed his reservations about Ben-Gvir becoming a member in the next government.^[24] Shas met with Likud for coalition talks on 10 November.^[25] By 11 November, Netanyahu had secured recommendations from 64 MKs, which constituted a majority.^[24] He was given the mandate to form the thirty-seventh government of Israel by President Herzog on 13 November.^[26] Otzma Yehudit and Noam officially split from Religious Zionism on 20 November as per a pre-election agreement.^[27]

On 25 November, Otzma Yehudit and Likud signed a coalition agreement, under which Ben-Gvir will assume the newly created position of National Security Minister, whose powers would be more expansive than that of the Minister of Public Security, including overseeing the Israel Police and the Israel Border Police in the West Bank, as well as giving powers to authorities to shoot thieves stealing from military bases. Yitzhak Wasserlauf was given the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee with expanded powers to regulate new West Bank settlements, while separating it from the «Periphery» portfolio, which will be given to Shas. The deal also includes giving the Ministry of Heritage to Amihai Eliyahu, separating it from the «Jerusalem Affairs» portfolio, the chairmanship of the Knesset’s Public Security Committee to Zvika Fogel and that of the Special Committee for the Israeli Citizens’ Fund to Limor Son Har-Melech, the post of Deputy Economic Minister to Almog Cohen, establishment of a national guard, and expansion of mobilization of reservists in the Border Police.^[28][29][30]

Netanyahu and Maoz signed a coalition agreement on 27 November, under which the latter would become a deputy minister, would head an agency on Jewish identity in the Prime Minister’s Office, and would also head Nativ, which processes the aliyah from the former Soviet Union.^[31] The agency for Jewish identity would have authority over educational content taught outside the regular curriculum in schools, in addition to the department of the Ministry of Education overseeing external teaching and partnerships, which would bring nonofficial organisations permitted to teach and lecture at schools under its purview.^[32]

Likud signed a coalition agreement with the Religious Zionist Party on 1 December. Under the deal, Smotrich would serve as the Minister of Finance in rotation with Aryeh Deri, and the party will receive the post of a minister within the Ministry of Defense with control over the departments administering settlement and open lands under the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, in addition to another post of a deputy minister. The deal also includes giving the post of Minister of Aliyah and Integration to Ofir Sofer, the newly created National Missions Ministry to Orit Strook, and the chairmanship of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to Simcha Rothman.^[33][34]

Likud and United Torah Judaism signed a coalition agreement on 6 December, to allow request for an extension to the deadline. Under it, the party would receive the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee which will be given to Moshe Gafni, the Ministry of Jerusalem and Tradition (which would replace the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage), in addition to several posts of deputy ministers and chairmanships of Knesset committees.^[35][36]

Likud also signed a deal with Shas by 8 December, securing interim coalition agreements with all of their allies. Under the deal, Deri will first serve as the Minister of Interior and Health, before rotating posts with Smotrich after two years. The party will also receive the Ministry of Religious Services and Welfare Ministries, as well as posts of deputy ministers in the Ministry of Education and Interior.^[37]

The vote to replace then-incumbent Knesset speaker Mickey Levy was scheduled for 13 December, after Likud and its allies secured the necessary number of signatures for it.^[38] Yariv Levin of Likud was elected as an interim speaker by 64 votes, while his opponents Merav Ben-Ari of Yesh Atid and Ayman Odeh of Hadash got 45 and five votes respectively.^[39]

Netanyahu asked Herzog for a 14-day extension after the agreement with Shas to finalise the roles his allied parties would play.^[40] Herzog on 9 December extended the deadline to 21 December.^[41] On that date, Netanyahu informed Herzog that he had succeeded in forming a coalition, with the new government expected to be sworn in by 2 January 2023.^[42] The government was sworn in on 29 December 2022.^[3]

Members of government[edit]

Ministers[edit]

The following are the current ministers in the government:^[1]

Portfolio	Minister	Party
Prime Minister	Benjamin Netanyahu		Likud
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Justice	Yariv Levin		Likud
Vice Prime Minister	Aryeh Deri (Dec. 2022–Jan. 2023)		Shas
Minister of the Interior	Aryeh Deri (Dec. 2022–Jan. 2023)		Shas
Michael Malchieli (Jan. 2023–) (acting)		Shas
Minister of Health	Aryeh Deri (Dec. 2022–Jan. 2023)		Shas
Yoav Ben-Tzur (Jan. 2023–) (acting)		Shas
Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee and National Resilience[43]	Yitzhak Wasserlauf		Otzma Yehudit
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Minister for Social Equality	Amichai Chikli		Likud
Minister of Housing and Construction Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office	Yitzhak Goldknopf		United Torah Judaism
Minister Without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Office	May Golan		Likud
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development	Avi Dichter		Likud
Minister of Communications	Shlomo Karhi		Likud
Minister of Culture and Sport	Miki Zohar		Likud
Minister of Defense	Yoav Gallant		Likud
Minister of Finance Minister in the Defense Ministry	Bezalel Smotrich		Religious Zionist
Minister of the Economy	Nir Barkat		Likud
Minister of Education Minister of Regional Cooperation	Yoav Kisch		Likud
Minister in the Education Ministry	Haim Biton		Shas
Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water	Israel Katz		Likud
Minister of Environmental Protection	Idit Silman		Likud
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Eli Cohen		Likud
Minister of Aliyah and Integration	Ofir Sofer		Religious Zionist
Minister of Information	Galit Distel-Atbaryan		Likud
Minister of Intelligence	Gila Gamliel		Likud
Minister of Heritage	Amihai Eliyahu		Otzma Yehudit
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition	Meir Porush		United Torah Judaism
Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services	Ya’akov Margi		Shas
Minister in the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services	Yoav Ben-Tzur		Shas
Minister of National Missions	Orit Strook		Religious Zionist
Minister of National Security	Itamar Ben-Gvir		Otzma Yehudit
Minister of Religious Affairs	Michael Malchieli		Shas
Minister of Science and Technology	Ofir Akunis		Likud
Minister of Strategic Affairs	Ron Dermer		Likud
Minister of Tourism	Haim Katz		Likud
Minister of Transportation	Miri Regev		Likud

Deputy ministers[edit]

Portfolio	Minister	Party	Reference
Deputy Minister of National Jewish Identity in the Prime Minister’s office	Avi Maoz (Dec. 2022–Feb. 2023)		Noam	[44]
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s office Deputy Minister of Transportation	Uri Maklev		United Torah Judaism	[45][46]
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development	Moshe Abutbul		Shas	[45]
Deputy Minister for Culture	Ya’akov Tessler		United Torah Judaism	[47][46][45]
Deputy Minister of Finance	Michal Waldiger		Religious Zionist	[45]
Deputy Minister of Interior Deputy Minister of Health	Moshe Arbel (Dec. 2022–Jan. 2023)		Shas	[48]

Principles and priorities[edit]

According to the agreements signed between Likud and each of its coalition partners, and the incoming government’s published guideline principles, its stated priorities are to combat the cost of living, further centralize Orthodox control over the state religious services, pass judicial reforms which include legislation to reduce judicial controls on executive and legislative power, expand settlements in the West Bank, and consider an annexation of the West Bank.^[49][50]

Before the vote of confidence in his new government in the Knesset, Netanyahu presented three top priorities for the new government: internal security and governance, halting the nuclear program of Iran, and the development of infrastructure, with a focus on further connecting the center of the country with its periphery.^[49]

Controversies[edit]

Judicial reforms[edit]

The government’s flagship program, centered around reforms in the judicial branch, drew widespread criticism. Critics highlighted the negative effects it would have on the separation of powers,^[51][52][53] the office of the Attorney General,^[54][55][56] the economy,^[57][58][59] public health,^[60][61] women and minorities,^[60][61][62] workers’ rights,^[63] scientific research,^[61][64] the overall strength of Israel’s democracy^[65][66] and its foreign relations.^[67]

After weeks of public protests on Israel’s streets, joined by a growing number of military reservists, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke against the reform on 25 March, calling for a halt of the legislative process «for the sake of Israel’s security».^[68] The next day, Netanyahu announced that he would be removed from his post, sparking another wave of protest across Israel and ultimately leading to Netanyahu agreeing to delay the legislation for a month, until the next Knesset session after Passover.^[69][70] On 10 April, Netanyahu announced that Gallant will keep his post.^[71]

Crime and corruption[edit]

Prime Minister’s capacity to serve[edit]

Israeli law allows for declaring a Prime Minister (as well as several other high-ranking public officials) to be temporarily or permanently incapacitated, if they are under a criminal investigation which is imperiled by their conduct.^[72] In the case of the Prime Minister, the authority to do so is given to the Attorney General.^[72] As of March 2023, the coalition was advancing a bill that will pass this authority from the Attorney General to the government, while preventing judicial review of the process.^[73]

Donations to elected officials[edit]

As of 5 March 2023, the government was promoting an amendment to the Law on Public Service (Gifts) that would allow Netanyahu to receive donations to fund his legal defense.^[74] The amendment follows a decision by the High Court of Justice (HCJ) that forced Netanyahu to refund USD 270,000 given to him and his wife by his late cousin, Nathan Mileikowsky, for their legal defense.^[74] This is in contrast to past statements by Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, who spoke against the possible conflict of interests that can result from such transactions.^[75]

The bill is opposed by the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who stressed that it could «create a real opportunity for governmental corruption».^[74]

Appointment of convicted criminals to ministerial positions[edit]

As of March 2023, the coalition was promoting a bill that would prevent judicial review of ministerial appointments. The bill is intended to prevent the HCJ from reviewing the appointment of the twice-convicted chairman of Shas, Aryeh Deri, to a ministerial position, after his previous appointment was annulled on grounds of unreasonableness.^[76][77] The bill follows on the heels of another amendment, that relaxed the ban on the appointment of convicted criminals, so that Deri — who was handed a suspended sentence after his second conviction — could be appointed.^[78][76]

The bill is opposed by the Attorney General, as well as by the Knesset Legal Adviser, Sagit Afik.^[76][77]

Electronic tagging of domestic violence offenders[edit]

In Israel, during 2022, 24 women «were murdered because they were women,» which was an increase of 50% compared to 2021.^[79] A law permitting courts to order men subject to a restraining order following domestic violence offenses to wear electronic tags was drafted during the previous Knesset and had passed its first reading unanimously.^[80]

On 22 March 2023, the Knesset voted to reject the bill. It had been urged to do so by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said that the bill was unfair to men.^[81][82] Earlier in the week, Ben-Gvir had blocked the measure from advancing in the ministerial legislative committee. The MKs voting against the bill included Prime Minister Netanyahu.^[80][83]

The Association of Families of Murder Victims said that by rejecting the law, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir «brings joy to violent men and abandons the women threatened with murder… unsupervised restraining orders endanger women’s lives even more. They give women the illusion of being protected, and then they are murdered.» MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, chairwoman of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, said that «the coalition proved today that it despises women’s lives.»^[83]

The NGO Amutat Bat Melech [he], which assists Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox women who suffer from domestic violence,^[84] said that: «Rejecting the electronic bracelet bill is disconnected from the terrible reality of seven femicides since the beginning of the year. This is an effective tool of the first degree that could have saved lives and reduced the threat to women suffering from domestic violence. This is a matter of life and death, whose whole purpose is to provide a solution to defend women.»^[80]

Security organizations[edit]

Independence of the Israel Police[edit]

In December 2022 Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir sought to amend the law that regulates the operations of the Israel Police, such that the ministry will have more direct control of its forces and policies, including its investigative priorities.^[85] Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara objected to the draft proposal, raising concerns that the law would enable the politicization of police work, and the draft was amended to partially address those concerns.^[85] Nevertheless, in March 2023 Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon stated that the Attorney General’s fears had been realized, referring to several instances of ministerial involvement in the day-to-day work of the otherwise independent police force^[86] – statements that were repeated by the Attorney General herself two days later.^[87] Separately, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai instructed Deputy Commissioners to avoid direct communication with the minister,^[88] later stating that «the Israel Police will remain apolitical, and act only according to law».^[89]

Following appeals by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, the High Court of Justice instructed Ben-Gvir «to refrain from giving operational directions to the police… [especially] as regards to protests and demonstrations against the regime.»^[90]

Creation of a National Guard[edit]

As talks of halting the judicial reform gained wind during March 2023, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if the legislation implementing the changes was suspended. To appease Ben-Gvir, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the government would promote the creation of a new National Guard, to be headed by Ben-Gvir.^[91]

On 29 March, thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem against this decision.^[92]

On 1 April, the New York Times quoted Gadeer Nicola, head of the Arab department at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, as saying “If this thing passes, it will be an imminent danger to the rights of Arab citizens in this country. This will create two separate systems of applying the law. The regular police which will operate against Jewish citizens — and a militarized militia to deal only with Arab citizens.»^[93] The same day, while speaking on Israel’s Channel 13 about those whom he’d like to see enlist in the National Guard, Ben-Gvir specifically mentioned La Familia, the far-right fan club of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team.^[94]

On 2 April, Israel’s cabinet approved the establishment of a law enforcement body that would operate independently of the police, under Ben-Gvir’s authority. According to the decision, the Minister was to establish a committee chaired by the Director General of the Ministry of National Security, with representatives of the ministries of defense, justice and finance, as well as the police and the IDF, to outline the operations of the new organization. The committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the government for consideration.^[95]

Addressing a conference on 4 April, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said that he is not opposed to the establishment of a security body which would answer to the police, but «a separate body? Absolutely not.» The police chief said he had warned Ben-Gvir that the establishment of a security body separate from the police is «unnecessary, with extremely high costs that may harm citizens’ personal security.»^[96]

During a press conference on 10 April, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, in what has been seen by some news outlets as a concession to the protesters, that «This will not be anyone’s militia, it will be a security body, orderly, professional, that will be subordinate to one of the [existing] security bodies.»^[97]

Religion[edit]

The role of religion in public life[edit]

The coalition’s efforts to expand the purview of Rabbinical courts; force some organizations, such as hospitals, to enforce certain religious practices; amend the Law Prohibiting Discrimination to allow gender segregation and discrimination on the grounds of religious belief; expand funding for religious causes; and put into law the exemption of yeshiva and kolel students from conscription have drawn criticism.^{[98][99][100]}

Several banks and institutional investors, including the Israel Discount Bank and AIG have committed to avoid investing in, or providing credit to any organization that will discriminate against others on ground of religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.^[101][102]

A series of technology companies and investment firms including Wiz, Intel Israel, Salesforce and Microsoft Israel Research and Development, have criticized the proposed changes to the Law Prohibiting Discrimination, with Wiz stating that it will require its suppliers to commit to preventing discrimination.^[103][104]

Over sixty prominent law firms pledged that they will neither represent, nor do business with discriminating individuals and organizations.^[105]

Insight Partners, a major private equity fund operating in Israel, released a statement warning against intolerance and any attempt to harm personal liberties.^{[106][107][108]}

Orit Lahav, chief executive of the women’s rights organization Mavoi Satum («Dead End»), said that «the Rabbinical courts are the most discriminatory institution in the State of Israel… Limiting the HCJ^[a] while expanding the jurisdiction of the Rabbinical courts would… cause significant harm to women.»^[60]

Anat Thon Ashkenazy, Director of the Center for Democratic Values and Institutions at the Israel Democracy Institute, said that «almost every part of the reform could harm women… the meaning of an override clause is that even if the court says that the law on gender segregation is illegitimate, is harmful, the Knesset could say ‘Okay, we say otherwise'». She added that «there is a very broad institutional framework here, after which there will come legislation that harms women’s right and we will have no way of protecting or stopping it.»^[60]

According to the Haaretz op-ed of 7 March 2023, «the current coalition is interested… in modifying the public space so it suits the religious lifestyle. The legal coup is meant to castrate anyone who can prevent it, most of all the HCJ.»^[109]

The Law of Return[edit]

The agreement signed by the coalition parties includes the setting up of a committee to draft changes to the Law of Return. Israeli religious parties have long demanded that the «grandchild clause» of the Law of Return be cancelled. This clause grants citizenship to anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent, as long as they do not practice another religion. If the grandchild clause were to be removed from the Law of Return then around 3 million people who are currently eligible for aliyah would no longer be eligible.^{[110][111][112][113][114]}

The heads of the Jewish Agency, the Jewish Federations of North America, the World Zionist Organization and Keren Hayesod sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, expressing their «deep concern» about any changes to the Law of Return, adding that «Any change in the delicate and sensitive status quo on issues such as the Law of Return or conversion could threaten to unravel the ties between us and keep us away from each other.»^{[110][111][112][113][114]}

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia issued a joint statement saying «We … view with deep concern … proposals in relation to religious pluralism and the law of return that risk damaging Israel’s … relationship with Diaspora Jewry.»^[115]

Israeli-Palestinian relations[edit]

Transfer of the West Bank to Israeli civilian control[edit]

On 23 February 2023, Defense Minister Gallant signed an agreement assigning governmental powers in the West Bank to a body to be headed by Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who will effectively become the governor of the West Bank, controlling almost all areas of life in the area, including planning, building and infrastructure. Israeli governments have hitherto been careful to keep the occupation as a military government. The temporary holding of power by an occupying military force, pending a negotiated settlement, is a principle of international law – an expression of the prohibition against obtaining sovereignty through conquest that was introduced in the wake of World War II.

Legal concerns[edit]

An editorial in Haaretz noted that the assignment of governmental powers in the West Bank to a civilian governor, alongside the plan to expand the dual justice system so that Israeli law will apply fully to settlers in the West Bank, constitutes de jure annexation of the West Bank.^[116][117]

In March 2023, a position paper by the Israeli Law Professors’ Forum for Democracy, a group of 120 Israeli law professors, stated that recent changes introduced by the Netanyahu government «validate the claim that Israel practices apartheid». Specifically, the group criticized the 23 February power-sharing agreement signed between the Likud parliamentary faction and the Religious Zionist Party, granting special authority over the occupied West Bank to the far-right leader of the RZP, Bezalel Smotrich. The law professors argue that this transfer of responsibility to civilian hands is a violation of international law and specifically the 1907 Hague Regulations.^[118][119]

Response to Huwara rampage[edit]

On 26 February 2023, hundreds of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara and three nearby villages, setting alight hundreds of Palestinian homes (some with people in them), businesses, a school, and numerous vehicles, killing one Palestinian man and injuring 100 others.^{[120][121][122]} Bezalel Smotrich subsequently called on Twitter for Huwara to be «wiped out» by the Israeli government.^[123] Zvika Fogel MK, of the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit, which forms part of the governing coalition, said that he «looks very favorably upon» the results of the rampage.^[124]

Resettlement of illegal settlements evacuated in 2005[edit]

Members of the coalition proposed an amendment to the Disengagement Law, which would allow Israelis to resettle illegal settlements vacated during the 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank.^[125] The proposal was approved for voting by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on 9 March 2023, while the committee was still waiting for briefing materials from the NSS, IDF, MFA and Shin Bet,^[126] and was passed on 21 March.^[127][125] The US has requested clarification from Israeli ambassador Michael Herzog.^[128] A US State Department spokesman stated that «The U.S. strongly urges Israel to refrain from allowing the return of settlers to the area covered by the legislation, consistent with both former Prime Minister Sharon and the current Israeli Government’s commitment to the United States,» noting that the actions represent a clear violation of undertakings given by the Sharon government to the Bush administration in 2005 and Netanyahu’s far-right coalition to the Biden administration the previous week.^[129]

Denial of the existence of Palestinians[edit]

On 19 March 2023, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that «there’s no such thing as Palestinians because there’s no such thing as a Palestinian people.» He added that the Palestinian people are a fictitious nation invented only to fight the Zionist movement, asking «Is there a Palestinian history or culture? There isn’t any.» The lectern at which Smotrich spoke was covered with a flag of the ‘Greater Land of Israel,'» encompassing Mandatory Palestine and Trans-Jordan.^[130][131]

On 21 March, a spokesman for the US State Department sharply criticized Smotrich’s comments. «The comments, which were delivered at a podium adorned with an inaccurate and provocative map, are offensive, they are deeply concerning, and, candidly, they’re dangerous. The Palestinians have a rich history and culture, and the United States greatly values our partnership with the Palestinian people,» he said.^[129]

Administration of governmental data, media and archives[edit]

Public broadcasting budget cuts[edit]

Minister of Communication Shlomo Karhi had initially intended to cut the funding of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (also known by its blanket branding Kan) by 400 million shekels – roughly half of its total budget^[132] – closing several departments, and privatizing content creation.^[133]

In response, the Director-General of the European Broadcasting Union, Noel Curran, sent two urgent letters to Netanyahu, expressing his concerns and calling on the Israeli government to «safeguard the independence of our Member KAN and ensure it is allowed to operate in a sustainable way, with funding that is both stable, adequate, fair, and transparent.»^[134][135]

On 25 January 2023, nine journalist organizations representing some of Kan’s competitors issued a statement of concern, acknowledging the «important contribution of public broadcasting in creating a worthy, unbiased and non-prejudicial journalistic platform», and noting that «the existence of the [broadcasting] corporation as a substantial public broadcast organization strengthens media as a whole, adding to the competition in the market rather than weakening it.» They also expressed their concern that the «real reason» for the proposal was actually «an attempt to silence voices from which… [the Minister] doesn’t always draw satisfaction».^[136] The same day, hundreds of journalists, actors and filmmakers protested in Tel Aviv.^[137] The proposal was eventually put on hold.^[138]

Deputy National Statistician nominees[edit]

On 22 February 2023 it was reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu was attempting to appoint his close associate Yossi Shelley as the deputy to the National Statistician — a highly sensitive position in charge of providing accurate data for decision makers.^[139] The appointment of Shelley, who did not possess the required qualifications for the role, was withdrawn following publication.^[140] In its daily editorial, Haaretz tied this attempt with the judicial reform: «once they take control of the judiciary, law enforcement and public media, they wish to control the state’s data base, the dry numerical data it uses to plan its future».^[141] Netanyahu also proposed Avi Simhon for the role, and eventually froze all appointments at the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.^[142]

Changes to the National Library of Israel’s board of directors[edit]

Also on 22 February 2023, it was revealed that Yoav Kish, the Minister of Education, was promoting a draft government decision change to the National Library of Israel board of directors which would grant him more power over the institution.^[143] In response, the Hebrew University — which owned the library until 2008 – announced that if the draft is accepted, it will withdraw its collections from the library. The university’s collections, which according to the university constitute some 80% of the library’s collection, include the Agnon archive, the original manuscript of Hatikvah, and the Rothschild Haggadah, the oldest known Haggadah.^[144]

A group of 300 authors and poets signed an open letter against the move, further noting their objection against «political takeover» of public broadcasting, as well as «any legislation that will castrate the judiciary and damage the democratic foundations of the state of Israel».^[145] Several days later, it was reported that a series of donors decided to withhold their donations to the library, totaling some 80 million shekels.^[146]

On 3 March a petition against the move by 1,500 academics, including Israel Prize laureates, was sent to Kish.^[147]

The proposal has been seen by some as retribution against Shai Nitzan, the former State Attorney and the library’s current rector.^[148][149]

On 5 March it was reported that the Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Asi Messing, was withholding the proposal. According to Messing, the proposal – which was being promoted as part of the Economic Arrangements Law – «was not reviewed… by the qualified personnel in the Ministry of Finance, does not align with any of the common goals of the economic plan, was not agreed to by myself and was not approved by the Attorney General.»^[150]

Environmental protection[edit]

As of February 2023, the government has been debating several proposals that will significantly weaken the Ministry of Environmental Protection, including reducing the environmental regulation of planning and development and electricity production.^[151] One of the main proposals, the transferral of a 3 billion shekel fund meant to finance waste management plants from the Ministry of Environmental Protection to the Ministry of the Interior, was eventually withdrawn.^[152]

Personnel turnover[edit]

During the first months of the administration, several media outlets noted unusual turnover among senior government employees, including senior career civil servants and non-political appointees.^{[153][154][155]} According to sources, Netanyahu is seeking out civil servants who were appointed by the previous government, intending to replace them with people loyal to him.^[156]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Thirty-seventh government of Israel. Knesset.

Лидер партии «Ликуд» Биньямин Нетаньяху официально вернулся на пост главы правительства во главе блока крайне правых и ультраортодоксальных партий, что вызывает серьезные опасения у либеральной части израильского общества. В день присяги правительства сотни людей пришли к зданию Кнессета, чтобы выразить свой протест в связи с планами новых министров.

Спустя почти два месяца после выборов в Кнессет 37-е правительство Израиля в четверг было приведено к присяге. Лидер правой партии «Ликуд» Биньямин Нетаньяху вернулся на пост премьер-министра после полутора лет в оппозиции. Это стало возможным благодаря соглашениям, заключенным «Ликудом» с ультрарелигиозными и крайне правыми партиями, которые предъявили достаточно жесткие требования во время коалиционных переговоров.

Речь шла как о распределении министерских портфелей, так и о поправках к законодательству. Поиск компромиссов был непростым, в том числе и внутри самого «Ликуда».

Переговоры не закончились даже к началу заседания Кнессета, где должно быть представлено правительство. Биньямин Нетаньяху задержался на 15 минут, так как продолжал уговаривать одного из своих ближайших соратников Исраэля Каца согласиться на ротацию должности главы МИДа. Еще накануне стало известно, что господину Кацу, бывшему министром иностранных дел в 2019–2020 годах, рассчитывавшему вернуться на это место, было предложено сначала возглавить Министерство энергетики, а спустя какое-то время сменить еще одного депутата «Ликуда» и министра разведки в 2020–2021 годах Эли Коэна в МИДе. Загвоздкой стал вопрос о сроках ротации, а именно когда Исраэль Кац и Эли Коэн будут меняться министерствами. Впрочем, из предыдущего премьерского опыта господина Нетаньяху известно, что, кто бы ни занимал пост главы МИДа, основную роль на международной арене всегда играет он сам.

И это было видно во время представления членов будущего кабинета министров в Кнессете. Биньямин Нетаньяху сделал акцент на внешнеполитических планах нового правительства. Среди приоритетов он традиционно назвал борьбу с ядерными амбициями Ирана, «прекращение израильско-арабского конфликта» и наращивание военного потенциала Израиля.

Сторонники Нетаньяху прерывали его речь аплодисментами, в то время как будущая оппозиция выкрикивала с мест в его адрес «Слабак! Лжец! Позор!», имея в виду уступки, которые пришлось сделать лидеру «Ликуда» на переговорах с другими партиями.

Среди вызывающих наиболее острую полемику в израильском обществе пунктов коалиционных соглашений, есть, например, «поправки о дискриминации», которые позволят поставщикам услуг отказываться от предоставления таковых на основании религиозных убеждений. Это, в частности, рассматривается как потенциальная угроза арабской общине и ЛГБТ-сообществу. Новое правительство также планирует законодательно принять решение о преодолении вето Высшего суда справедливости (БАГАЦ), а также внести поправки в израильский закон о возвращении, что может ограничить репатриацию в Израиль для людей с еврейскими корнями не по материнской линии. Кроме того, коалиционные соглашения предусматривают увеличение финансирования для ультраортодоксального сектора.

Нетаньяху проинформировал президента Израиля Ицхака Герцога, что ему удалось сформировать правительство

На этом фоне в день присяги правительства к зданию Кнессета пришли сотни людей. К полудню их число насчитывало уже около 2 тыс. человек. «Это много с учетом того, что это утро рабочего дня»,— сказал корреспонденту “Ъ” преподаватель Еврейского университета Олег, участвовавший в демонстрации протеста. По его словам, многие приходили на час-два, потом были вынуждены возвращаться на работу. «К самому зданию Кнессета нас не пропустили, мы расположились в паре сотен метров. Полиция вела себя корректно. Публика была очень разной — и молодежь, и те, кому 50–60 лет и больше, представители ЛГБТ и арабской общины. Единственное, кого я там не видел,— людей религиозных, может быть, буквально несколько человек»,— добавил Олег. По его словам, лично он пришел на демонстрацию, потому что не хочет жить в стране, «где религиозные имеют власть». «Я не хочу, чтобы налоги тратились впустую»,— подчеркнул он. Олег надеется, что демонстрации против нового правительства будут продолжены. Впрочем, это уже в планах нескольких общественных организаций. Многим не нравятся не только планы нового правительства, но и его состав. Часть министров не раз обвинялись либо в коррупции, либо в подрыве общественного доверия. В эту группу входит и сам Биньямин Нетаньяху, который находится под судом.

Тем временем парламентская оппозиция тоже не собирается сдаваться. «Мы передаем вам государство в отличном экономическом положении, мощное в военном плане, способное отстаивать свои интересы, пользующееся популярностью на международной арене. Постарайтесь не разрушить это. Мы скоро вернемся»,— заявил председательствовавший на своем последнем в качестве премьер-министра заседании Кнессета Яир Лапид, который теперь возглавит парламентскую оппозицию. Уходя из зала заседаний, он отказался пожать руку новому премьеру.

Лидер партии «Еш атид» и министр иностранных дел «правительства перемен» Яир Лапид стал новым премьером Израиля. Парламентарии сумели до конца недели утвердить закон о самороспуске и назначить точную дату очередных внеочередных выборов. Трехмесячная избирательная кампания обойдется Израилю примерно в $880 млн, но похоже, ни политиков, ни граждан это не смущает. Как минимум и те, и другие объясняют предстоящий поход на избирательные участки неизбежностью того, что коалиция должна быть устойчивой и сильной.

Год и две недели — ровно столько продержалась «коалиция перемен». Финальные дни ее работы стали яркой выжимкой этого короткого, но насыщенного срока. На роспуск парламента у израильских политиков ушло почти две долгих и очень эмоциональных недели. Обе стороны: коалиция и оппозиция — пытались напоследок договориться о принятии важных для себя законов. Но предметом торга стала даже дата голосования: 25 октября или 1 ноября.

«Сегодня происходит потрясающая ситуация, нестандартная для Израиля. Поскольку ультраортодоксальные партии требуют провести выборы именно 25 числа, когда им удобно — ученики йешив еще не возвращаются в йешивы, — то Нетаньяху фактически задерживает роспуск парламента, пытаясь добиться даты выборов, более удобной для ультраортодоксальных партий», — сказал министр строительства Израиля Зэев Элькин.

Оппозиция намеревалась создать альтернативную коалицию в рамках действующего Кнессета. Для этого ей нужны были две составляющие: время и голоса перебежчиков. Как выяснилось, одно зависит от другого. Ушедший из партии премьера Беннета «Ямина» Нир Орбах всячески затягивал парламентскую экспертизу законопроекта о роспуске. Без вердикта комиссии под его руководством документ не мог быть вынесен на пленарное заседание Кнессета. Впрочем, по словам другого соратника Беннета по партии «Ямина» Абира Кары, в обоих лагерях понимали: шансы избежать выборов невелики.

«У Нетаньяху же большинства нет. Он не смог создать правительство несколько раз. Когда-то и мы, „Ямина“, были с ним. Тогда было 59 мандатов против 61, и у Нетаньяху все равно не было правительства. Даже сейчас, когда мы видим весь этот „фестиваль“ вокруг нас. Нетаньяху предпринял беспрецедентные усилия, чтобы развалить правительство и пойти на выборы, и тут внезапно выясняется, что он уже не хочет идти на выборы. Они, действительно, никому не нужны. Нам нужно было раньше задаваться вопросом сохранения нынешней широкой коалиции», — отметил депутат Кнессета, партия «Ямина» Абир Кара.

Работу «правительства перемен» оппозиция называет «экспериментами над страной». Сами же министры и депутаты от коалиции убеждены, что им удалось в корне изменить систему.

«Показатели в 4% инфляции — это лучший показатель среди всех развитых стран мира. У нас бюджетный дефицит сегодня 0%. То есть мы погасили бюджетный дефицит за один год. Плюс мы провели масштабные реформы, которые годами обещали русскоязычным избирателям. Это добавки социального плана. Люди, пережившие холокост, получили почти на 60% больше ежегодное пособие. В конце концов, даже посмотрите на проблему жилья. Да, проблема жилья существует в Израиле. Годами цены на недвижимость в Израиле росли, но то, что было сделано за минувший год, это 79 тысяч разрешений на строительство нового жилья при среднегодовом показателе предыдущего правительства не менее 40 тысяч. Мы, действительно, пытались решить многие проблемы, которые годами не решало предыдущее правительство», — подчеркнул вице-спикер Кнессета Евгений Сова.

Коалиционные депутаты и министры сходятся в одном: конец можно было отсрочить — помешали разногласия, которые использовала оппозиция. Еще в начале недели лидер «Ликуда», согласно опросам, не мог собрать парламентское большинство на следующих выборах. Но вдруг подтвердились давние слухи: Нафтали Беннет объявил о временном уходе из политики. Его место у руля партии «Ямина» займет Айелет Шакед. Пресса давно обсуждала ее желание вернуться под крыло Нетаньяху. С ней блок бывшего премьера набирает 63 мандата — впервые за последние четыре года. Депутаты от «Ликуда» сдержанно ликуют.

«Это правительство — в прошлом. Я верю, что через четыре месяца мы громогласно вернемся. Нет сомнений, что на этот раз израильское общество не останется равнодушным и пойдет на избирательные участки», — заявил депутат Кнессета, партия «Ликуд» Эли Коэн.

В итоге на избирательные участки израильтяне пойдут 1 ноября. Это стало известно лишь утром 30 июня, когда закон о роспуске прошел второе и третье чтения. Из-за споров о строительстве метрополитена в Тель-Авиве и финансировании избирательных кампаний депутаты сорвали все дедлайны, ими самими установленные.

За последние рабочие сутки Кнессета 24-го созыва к закону о роспуске внесли 12 тысяч поправок. Разобраться более оперативно «правительству перемен» удалось лишь с передачей премьерских полномочий главе МИД Яиру Лапиду. Без прессы в присутствии жен и детей премьер приходящий поблагодарил премьера уходящего.

«Я работал со многими премьерами, многих премьеров знал. Ты хороший человек, отличный премьер и хороший друг. Это не церемония прощания, ведь я не собираюсь с тобой расставаться», — премьер Израиля Яир Лапид.

Официально в должность премьера Израиля Яир Лапид вступил спустя полдня — в полночь с 30 июня на 1 июля. Вслед за самым затяжным роспуском парламента в истории еврейское государство ждет самая продолжительная предвыборная кампания: впереди 123 дня настоящей политической битвы.