A large number of Likud MKs are jostling for what remains of the ministries and Knesset committees as the dust begins to settle on the prolonged coalition negotiations.
Likud chairman and prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet announced which roles his party members will receive.
MK David Bitan has been the only Likud member to say publicly as late as Monday afternoon that the party had “lost its way” in the negotiations and that Netanyahu had given up too much. However, other MKs are reportedly unhappy because a number of important ministries – including the Finance, Public Security, Health and Interior ministries – were promised to other parties.
Channel 13 reported that Netanyahu will wait until Wednesday to announce to the Likud’s members what their role will be.
Approximately 16 ministries remain, with the top positions being defense and foreign ministers.
Who in Likud will get top ministries?
The Defense Ministry will likely go to Yoav Gallant, while the question of foreign minister remains open. Netanyahu confidant and former ambassador to the US Ron Dermer was considered for the position, but recent reports indicated that it will likely go to a member of the Likud, like Amir Ohana or Israel Katz.
Next-level ministries are Justice, Education and Transportation. Knesset speaker Yariv Levin will likely resign his post to become justice minister. Miri Regev was mentioned as an option for both Education or Transportation, as was Eli Cohen.
The remaining positions include Culture and Sport, Communications, Agriculture and Rural Development, Environmental Protection, Tourism, Intelligence, Diaspora Affairs, Science and Technology, Regional Cooperation, and Energy.
Names that have come up regarding these ministries are Miki Zohar for Culture and Sport and Gila Gamliel for Environmental Protection. Other names that have been discussed as possible ministers include Yoav Kisch, David Amsalem, Avi Dichter, Shlomo Karhi and Nir Barkat.
A number of Knesset positions also remain for the Likud. This includes the speaker who will replace Levin, with candidates reportedly being Kisch, Ofir Akunis, Danny Danon and Ohana.
Ofir Katz will likely become Knesset whip.
This leaves the Knesset committees, with the most important being the Home Committee (known as the Knesset Committee), and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. It is unclear who will lead these committees, or the other five or so committees that will be led by Likud members.