Likud, Jewish Power Reach Preliminary Coalition Deal

By i24
Posted on 11/25/22 | News Source: i24

With Itamar Ben-Gvir to serve as the Minister for National Security

Likud, the part of Israel's prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, reached on Friday an initial coalition agreement with the far-right Jewish Power party that will see leader Itamar Ben-Gvir appointed the Minister for National Security.

It is understood the post represents a version of the Public Security portfolio with an expanded purview that also includes the Real Estate Enforcement division and the West Bank Border Police division. Additionally, Ben-Gvir's party will be tasked with Negev and Galilee ministry—which will now be decoupled from the Social Periphery Ministry—and the Heritage Ministry. 

Amichai Eliyahu will preside over the latter, while the Negev and Galilee Ministry will be headed Yitzhak Wasserlauf, the Jewish Power deputy leader. "We took a big step tonight toward a full coalition agreement, toward forming a fully, fully right-wing government," Ben-Gvir—a controversial far-right activist staunchly opposed to Palestinian statehood—said in the statement.