Featherbedding key to Israeli coalition

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D

Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM —  For the first time in more than a year, Israel has a government approved by the Knesset, instead of a series of continuing governments with limited authority to make policy.

The last day and hours before the announcement was a mess, with announcements of who would get what ministry, by Gantz and even more by Netanyahu, with several prominent disappointments among those left out.

There was also a confusion of shifting responsibilities of this and that between ministries, so it’ll be a while until we’re sure of who has responsibility for what kinds of policy.

Some of it seems artificial, with individuals getting assignments, along with salary, car, driver, and aide, but no access to an administrative staff to do the work of assessing options, advising the minister, and then implementing what is decided.

We can imagine that each of several artificial ministers will do what he or she can to seem important. There’ll be meetings and announcements, little that is accomplished.

Bibi has also promised the important Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Miri Regev, to be given when he is no longer the Prime Minister a year and one half from now.

What are the chances of that promise being kept? Perhaps no more than a promise to appoint former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, to be Finance Minister in his next government. Alas, that appointment went to Israel Katz, formerly the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and before that Minister of Transportation. Barkat is one of the prominent Likudniks left without any appointment.

The government is huge, with more than 30 ministers and about half as many deputy ministers. The size is made necessary by the details of the coalition between Likud and Blue White, with each claiming an equal number of slots; and with the numbers pushed up by the size of Likud’s bloc with the ultra-Orthodox, and the need to pass out jobs.

Critics call it a waste of millions, while defenders say it is cheaper than the billions spent on another election, not likely to break the near equal tie between Likud and Blue White, with neither able to form a government by itself.

Among the titles that seem more imaginative than real are:

Minister for Jerusalem and Heritage
Minister for Social Equality
Minister for Settlements
Minister for Intelligence
Minister for Regional Cooperation
Minister for Higher and Secondary Education and Water
Minister for Liaison to the Knesset
Minister for Strategic Affairs
Minister for Diaspora Affairs
Minister for Community Strengthening and Advancement

And who knows which, if any, of the Deputy Ministers will be assigned any real work?

The swearing in of the government was postponed from Thursday night till Sunday afternoon, to give the Prime Minister more time to deal with appointments from Likudniks.

Among the complainers, Ari Dichter, former head of Shin Bet, and number eight on the list of Likudniks elected in the recent primary, who said that he wouldn’t be in the Knesset to approve the government. He hadn’t even been telephoned by the Prime Minister to set up an appointment to explain his appointment.

Also out of the government is Yamina (Right wing) Party, led by Naftali Bennett. Except for its former Minister of Education, who broke with his party to be appointed Minister for Jerusalem, and Heritage

Bennett, Shaked, and Smotrich blasted Bibi for abandoning them in a prime time presentation. Bennett and his sidekicks accused Bibi of ignoring one of his most loyal supporters, while Bibi retorted that the party had demanded four ministerial appointments on the basis of having only six Knesset seats.

Commentators are squabbling over the question of the capacity of the government to last, and the real chances of Bibi giving up his post after a year and a half. Assuming it lasts that long.

Leaving aside the squabbles producing imaginary ministries, the Coronavirus seems to have worked in favor of producing some peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Of course, it’s not complete, with enraged individuals, some of them prompted by Hezbollah or Iran, engaging in daily incidents and an occasional death. We’re in the midst of Ramadan, and that may be adding to violence. But Israel has provided aid, information about Coronavirus and its treatments, and treatment for both West Bank and Gazan branches. We can argue if the quiet produced has been thorough or lasting, but it does seem at least to be in the background.

But– there’s likely to be a major confrontation if Bibi goes through with his promise to attach pieces of the West Bank to Israel. So far his rhetoric has been over the top, but that’s not new. He’s long called for annexation, absorption, or the application of Israel law to the settlements, or at least to their major blocs. But he’s not done it. Indeed, he’s not done more than praise Donald Trump for recognizing Israeli control over the Golan Heights, and moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

Now the extension of Israel to maor blocs and/or the Jordan Valley is part of the coalition agreement, said to be done in July. The US has endorsed something like that, but with reservations that it’ll be coupled with movement toward Israeli recognition of a Palestinian State. Mahmoud Abbas has spoken forcefully against the move, as has King Abdullah of Jordan. And France has spoken of instituting sanctions by the European Community if Israel moves unilaterally.

Coronavirus has also angered lots of business people and their employees– either left out so far of government aid, or given what they consider to be meager assistance. Among those who had been staunch supporters of Bibi is the demand for more money, with a promise of no longer any political support.

It’s all problematic. Bibi’s political life may be coming to an end, both due to the shortage of real appointments he could make, the anger of those left out, as well as upsets over his treatment of those affected by Coronavirus.

We’ll see.

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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com