Yinon Magal
Yinon MagalFlash 90 / Moshe Shai

MK Yinon Magal (Jewish Home) excitedly discussed the final coalition agreement signed by his party and Likud on Thursday morning. 

"We are happy negotiations are finished, there is a coalition, there is a government, we can start working" the former Walla! editor told the news site. "We are happy that at the end of the day, we have portfolios where we can express our agenda."

Magal took the time to address each of three ministries coming to Jewish Home and three top party members to receive them. 

"When they thought Ayelet Shaked would be the minister of culture, they said this is the destruction of Israeli culture. Now, she's been appointed to serve as justice minister and it's the everlasting destruction of the High Court," Magal noted. 

"I advise everyone to calm down," he continued. "Everything's fine. There's nothing stronger than democracy. We find it necessary to strengthen the Knesset against the Supreme Court, and to make some changes. This is not about revolutions."

Addressing reports of conflict within the party, Magal asserted that Tekuma faction head Uri Ariel had gotten the most senior portfolio after Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett, just as he'd asked.

"The most senior portfolio, even above education, went to Ayelet Shaked. Bennett gave it to Ayelet; he complimented her completely," Magal explained. "It's not always suitable for politicians to do this, but Naftali really thinks he should be Education Minister and promote Jewish and Zionist education to all of the Israeli people."

"These portfolios are not sectoral, and we can use them how we wish. The fact the ultimately the Right won elections gave us the legitimacy to do so," Magal added. 

While the Right may have won, Magal was quick to assert that he hoped the government would expand in the future - even to include the leftist Zionist Union. 

"I think we need a broad coalition that has security...I don't believe that we'll leave the government. We will remain, unless there are processes that would force us to leave, which contravene our viewpoint."

As to Zionist Union joining the government, Magal pronounced it was "a matter of what it right for the Israeli people, and it is right for there to be a wide coalition. It's all been said and done before. Anything can happen, it's okay. 

"I don't know if I should say this now, but there have been lot stranger coalitions than one [with Jewish Home and Zionist Union]."