'Bloc of change': We're waiting for Bennett

• Published date: 26 May 2021
• Author: Hezki Baruch
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

The report comes after Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman announced that they had reached a coalition agreement.

According to Tuesday's report, Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett is in contact only with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the Likud has expressed anger that Bennett has not yet signed an agreement for a joint run, as Netanyahu suggests.

Based on the agreements in the bloc of change so far, Lapid appears to be signing agreements to form a government comprised of at least 25 ministers, even though he has promised in the past not to allow a government comprised of more than 18 ministers.

In such a government, Bennett will be the Prime Minister, Ayelet Shaked will be Interior Minister, and Matan Kahana will receive the Religious Services portfolio. New Hope party chairman Gideon Sa'ar will serve as Minister of Justice, Yifat Shasha Bitton will receive the Education portfolio and Yoaz Hendel will also serve as minister in some capacity.

Lapid himself will serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Karin Elharrar will be the Minister of Communications and Meir Cohen will serve as Speaker of the Knesset. Yesh Atid will receive three more portfolios. Blue and White will receive the Ministries of Defense...