The haredi United Torah Judaism party signed a full coalition agreement with the Likud Wednesday morning, a day before Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to bring his new government before the Knesset.
While the two sides signed a preliminary deal earlier this month, Wednesday’s agreement delineates the full list of positions UTJ will receive in the new government and the 25th Knesset.
The two constituent factions which make up UTJ – Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael – resolved their outstanding issues which had hamstrung efforts to reach a deal with the Likud, including Degel HaTorah’s refusal to accept UTJ receiving a position in the Israeli Cabinet. Agudat Yisrael chief Yitzhak Goldknopf conceded to Degel HaTorah’s demand, informing Netanyahu that he will not serve as a member in the Cabinet.
Under the deal reached Wednesday, Goldknopf will receive the Construction and Housing Ministry, while Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni will return as chairman of the Knesset’s powerful Finance Committee, a position he held under previous Netanyahu governments.
Meir Porush will be tapped as Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister, with Yaakov Asher serving as chairman of the Knesset’s Interior Ministry, and Yisrael Eichler serving as chairman of the Labor and Welfare Committee.
On Tuesday night, Shas announced the distribution of positions in the new government.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri will serve as Interior Minister and Health Minister. Ya'akov Margi will be appointed Welfare Minister, Yoav Ben-Tzur will be appointed as a Minister in the Welfare Ministry.
Michael Malchieli will be appointed Religious Affairs Minister, Haim Biton will serve as a Minister in the Education Ministry, Moshe Arbel will be appointed Deputy Interior Minister and Deputy Health Minister, and MK Uriel Buso will be appointed chairman of the Shas faction in the Knesset, chairman of the Knesset Health Committee, and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset.
MK Yosef Taieb will be appointed chairman of the Education Committee and MK Yinon Azoulai will serve as a member of the Finance Committee.