As part of the coalition agreement: The chairman of religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, conducted tenacious negotiations with the chairman of the Likud and prime minister-designate, Binyamin Netanyahu, and finally obtained for himself the position of minister of finance in rotation. In addition, Smotrich is expected to receive the Civil Administration in full, after Netanyahu withdrew for fear of the reaction of the Americans, and even receive many powers reserved for the Minister of Defense.
According to a publication of Israel Hayom’s settlement and religions reporter, Hanan Greenwood, the religious Zionist party will appoint the coordinator of government operations in the territories and the head of the civil administration, instead of the defense minister. In addition to the control over the director and his way of acting, and over MTA, Smotrich or a minister on his behalf will determine the identity of the two most significant people in the YUS besides the General of the Central Command and the Minister of Defense. In addition, the party is demanding lightning legislation even before the formation of the government in order to anchor the position of the minister in the Ministry of Defense who will be entrusted with the entire settlement issue.
Lapid: Dangerous political interference in Israel’s security
Following the publication, the outgoing Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, attacked the conclusion in which religious Zionism is given broad powers in the Ministry of Defense: “If the Minister of Defense expropriates the choice of the Coordinator of Operations in the Territories and the head of the Civil Administration, this is a dangerous political intervention in Israel’s security and the IDF’s ability to operate. Such a decision will become Yoav Galant became the most emasculated and weakest defense minister in the country’s history even before he took office.”
If the Minister of Defense revokes the selection of the Coordinator of Operations in the Territories and the head of the Civil Administration, this is a dangerous political interference in Israel’s security and the IDF’s ability to operate. Such a decision would make Yoav Galant the most ostracized and weakest defense minister in the country’s history even before he took office. https://t.co/or86TXVvRP
— Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) December 4, 2022
These are the roles that religious Zionism received
According to the agreement reached, religious Zionism will receive the Ministry of Finance in rotation (Smotrich), the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption (Ofir Sofer) and the Ministry of National Tasks (Orit Strock). In addition, a minister in the Ministry of Defense who is responsible for the settlements in Judea and Samaria who will act with the coordination and agreement of the Prime Minister. Also, Deputy Minister (Michal Waldiger), Chairman of the Constitution, Law and Law and Religious Services Committee (Simcha Rothman) who will lead the reform of the legal system in the Knesset and Chairman of the Reforms Committee (Ohad Tal).
Religious Zionism on election day Photo: Sraya Diamant/Flash90
“Rotation is not an optimal thing”
In an interview held last night on the program “Meet the Press”, Smotrich detailed his intentions and clarified where he is headed in the management of the office. “We will ease a series of issues with the cost of living – already in the next budget,” promised the designated minister. “We will not raise taxes during such a period.”
On the rotation: “Rotation is not an optimal thing, but in politics there is a gap between what is desired and what is found,” said the chairman of religious Zionism. “In recent years, finance ministers have not served longer, even without rotation.”
Regarding his approach, he said: “My economic positions are known, I am a man of the free market and believe that if the government does not interfere, there will be growth here. If Netanyahu insists, we will look into how it can be done.”