Israel: time is running out to form a new government

The last week in Israel has been hectic when it comes to politics and diplomacy. While negotiations continue to maintain the ceasefire between the Hebrew country and Hamas, at the same time Israel is experiencing a tumultuous moment in its domestic politics, unable to form a government after the elections on March 23rd. Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister for 12 years, he was the first person in charge to form a government after being the most voted list in the elections with 30 seats. Unable to reach a coalition agreement, the president of the Jewish state, Reuven Rivlin, entrusted the mission to Yair Lapid leader of the Yesh Atid party, the second most voted list. And a few hours after the deadline to reach a coalition agreement, negotiations continue. The distribution of ministerial portfolios is still the main point of disagreement between the different parties. One of the main sticking points is the formation of the judicial committee. The number two of Yamina, a party led by Naftali Bennet, has demanded to take the place of Labor leader Merav Michaeli on the judicial appointments committee. According to The Times of Israel, the Labor Party has already stated that it will not give back off the committee position. Another major obstacle has to do with the Arab Raam party. Raam’s leader, Mansour Abbas, has asked in exchange for his support for the “Block of Change” that the Interior Ministry cede broad powers to the Israeli Arab municipal councils, a demand opposed by Ayelet Shaked (Yamina), who she would occupy the position of Minister of the Interior.The fledgling coalition agreement establishes a rotating presidency between Yamina and Yesh Atid, Bennett serving as prime minister for two years before handing over the reins to Lapid. Once an agreement is reached to form a Government, the deputies will have to vote in Parliament and later the inauguration will take place. While the last hours pass before the deadline to reach a coalition agreement, members of Parliament have also had to vote for the next president of Israel, Isaac Herzog or Miriam Peretz were the two candidates for the presidency of Israel. During an anonymous vote in which the 120 deputies that make up the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) could vote, Isaac Herzog finally prevailed over Peretz with 87 votes compared to 26. Herzog stands as the eleventh president of Israel to succeed the current president, Reuven Rivlin, on July 9, in his first speech after being elected as the new president of Israel, Herzog, stated that he intended to “build bridges” within Israeli society and with the Jewish diaspora, promote entrepreneurship, ” fight anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel “and” safeguard the foundations of our democracy. ” Both the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the opposition leader Yair Lapid, have congratulated Herzog. Isaac Herzog, director of the Jewish Agency and son of the sixth president of Israel, is a reputed lawyer and according to The Jerusalem Post, is the closest thing to Israeli royalty. Grandson of Israel’s first Ashkenazi rabbi, Isaac Herzog, after whom he is named, and son of the former major general of the Israel Defense Forces and then president, Chaim Herzog.Although the figure of the president of Israel is merely ceremonial, he also has the power to grant pardons, which creates a potentially delicate situation, as Netanyahu is being tried for three crimes of corruption charges. Herzog has avoided commenting on the crimes that weigh on the acting prime minister.