Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the final ministerial posts for members of his Likud party on Wednesday, a day ahead of the inauguration of the government.
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Yariv Levin, one of Netanyahu's closest associates, has been appointed Justice Minister. He previously held the position of Knesset speaker for approximately two weeks to expedite the crucial bills that granted bloc leaders their coalition demands. Amir Ohana, who became Israel's first openly gay cabinet member in 2019, will take over the role.
A staunch supporter of judicial reform, Levin is expected to promote a series of measures, such as increasing government control of judicial appointments and lowering the age of retirement for Supreme Court justices.
Idit Silman, who left former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Yamina party earlier in the year – sending ripples through the political system that would ultimately lead to the downfall of the Bennett-Lapid government – has been given the role of environmental protection minister.
Amichai Chikli, also a rogue Yamina MK and the first to defect from the faction, has been appointed diaspora affairs minister as well as social equality minister. The social equality portfolio was first offered to Gila Gamliel, but she turned it down.
Yoav Gallant, a former top IDF general and contender for the position of IDF chief of staff, has been appointed defense minister.
Veteran Likudnik Israel Katz has been appointed to the highly prestigious position of foreign minister in rotation with Eli Cohen, with Cohen to begin first. The move reportedly led to a fallout in the meeting with Netanyahu with Katz – who was expected to get the portfolio either full-time or in rotation with former Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer – storming out. Cohen and Katz are each insisting on beginning the rotation first. However, Katz will begin as energy minister and switch with Cohen some time around the two-year mark.
Netanyahu was originally reported to want to nominate Dermer for the position of foreign minister, but he is instead to receive the strategic affairs portfolio that would allow him to be a member of the Security Cabinet nevertheless.
Miri Regev, one of the few female ministers in the incoming government, has been given the transportation portfolio.
Nir Barkat and Miki Zohar have both been appointed to ministerial positions for the first time and will serve as economy minister and culture and sports minister respectively. Galit Distel Atbaryan has been appointed a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, although her responsibilities have not yet been disclosed.
The remaining portfolios include intelligence and regional cooperation.
The incoming government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, is expected to be sworn in on Thursday, making Netanyahu prime minister for the sixth time.
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