T. Belman. Given that Netanyahu is against reducing the High Court’s power and that he gave Kahlon a veto over any such changes, its hard to see what she can accomplish. Now Bayit Yehudi was also given control over the Settlement Division and the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and one of its MKs will be appointed deputy defense minister. I believe that the latter position includes construction in J&S. Does this empower Bennett to embrace the Levy Report and its recommendations? Bennett can make a big difference in charge of Education than he could have made as Foreign Mihnister.
YNET reports on Bennett’s victory
In a last minute move on Tuesday night, Bayit Yehudi demanded Shaked be appointed as justice minister.
Netanyahu agreed to the demand, on condition that Shaked not head the committee overseeing the nomination of new judges, does not have the authority to appoint rabbinical judges and does not head the Ministerial Committee for Legislation – three roles traditionally tasked to the justice minister.
But as the clock ticked down to the midnight deadline on Wednesday, Netanyahu had no choice but to agree to leave two of the three roles in the hands of the justice minister – authority over the Judicial Selection Committee and the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.
In addition to the education, justice and agriculture portfolios, Bayit Yehudi will receive control over the Settlement Division and the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and one of its MKs will be appointed deputy defense minister.
Bennett also secured a commitment to implement the Prawer Plan on the arrangement of Bedouin settlement in the Negev.
Bayit Yehudi is expected to demand Shaked to be sworn in as minister in the first round of ministerial appointments, before the expansion of the government. This first round is expected to take place in the Knesset on Monday.
In advance of the deal HAARETZ said:
Bennett has two goals in the upcoming negotiations with Likud. One is to significantly upgrade the list of portfolios Netanyahu has offered his party. The second is to ensure that Habayit Hayehudi will retain a powerful position in the government even if Netanyahu later tries to bring Zionist Union into the coalition. Habayit Hayehudi MKs fear that Netanyahu will make such a bid within a few months, and that if he succeeds, he will oust them from the government.
“The first is that the justice minister will soon have to decide on who the next attorney general will be,” said one. “This is a very sensitive position, and Netanyahu has no interest in entrusting the task to Bennett or Shaked. The second problem is that Shaked is spearheading the battle to change the face of the Supreme Court. Netanyahu has thus far avoided a frontal confrontation with the court, and it’s not certain he wants this headache.”
Netanyahu wants to avoid making waves. But a battle over the government’s direction is going to take place and its not certain Netanyahu can steer the ship in the direction he would prefer.