Guidelines for 34th government

By Shlomo Cesana, ISRAEL HAYOM

Government presents binding policy guidelines for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fourth government: A commitment to diminishing cost of living, protecting Israel’s security • Conspicuously absent: A commitment to the two-state solution.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fourth government was set to be sworn in on Thursday, a day after its policy outlines were outlined at the Knesset. All members of the coalition are bound by these guidelines, which include 18 clauses revolving around the most urgent issues in all areas.

Conspicuously absent from these guidelines are a few issues that may have been omitted due to their sensitive nature. For example, the guidelines do not include a commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
[nor do they mention an undivided Jerusalem or building in J&S]

Many of the Western world’s reactions to the results of Israel’s March election had to do with the policy guidelines that this government was to rest upon. The Americans and the Europeans clarified that they wanted to see a commitment to the two-state solution in the stated guidelines.

Another missing declaration that many in the West would have liked to see was the pledge not to build in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Likewise, the Iranian nuclear threat — an issue championed by Netanyahu — is not mentioned.

A pledge to preserve the authority of the courts is also absent from the document.

The guidelines are as follows:

• The Jewish people have an undeniable right to a sovereign state in the land of Israel — their national and historic homeland.

• Advance the peace process and work toward achieving peace agreements with the Palestinians and with all our neighbors while maintaining Israel’s security, historical and national interests. Should such an agreement be reached, it will be brought before the government and the Knesset for approval, and possibly submitted to a referendum vote, if legally required.

• Protect the Jewish character and heritage of the State of Israel while honoring all religions and religious traditions in the state in accordance with the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

• Act to ensure national security and a sense of personal security for all citizens, while decisively combating violence and terrorism.

• Take action to lower the cost of living, with an emphasis on the housing, food and energy markets.

• Combat the centralization of power in the banking, insurance and investment industries, among others.

• Promote professional training and education in the technology fields in order to satisfy the current needs of the industry.

• Take action to minimize the wealth gap in Israeli society by way of equal opportunities in education, a stronger health system, advancement of women and minorities, treatment of the elderly, a war on poverty and an increase in assistance for the poor.

• Make the advancement of the geographical and social periphery in Israel a national priority.

• Advance the development of the Galilee and the Negev.

• Place education at the top of the national priority list.

• Advance university students, soldiers and teens.

• Integrate people with disabilities of all kinds into the fabric of society.

• Take action to increase assistance to families with very young children.

• Make the issue of immigration and immigrant absorption a priority and work to encourage immigration to Israel.

• Modify the system of government to increase governance and government stability and advance reforms in the area of governance to improve government stability.

• Solidify the rule of law in the State of Israel.

• Protect the environment and take part in global efforts on climate and environmental issues.