Netanyahu Reaches Coalition Deal with Religious Zionism Party

Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu with representatives of the Religious Zionist Party, Thursday.

YERUSHALAYIM (Reuters/Hamodia) – Israeli Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu has reached a coalition deal with the Religious Zionism party, bringing him closer to securing a new government after the election last month, Netanyahu’s Likud party said on Thursday.

The Religious Zionism party will be given, among other portfolios, control of the Finance Ministry as part of a rotation, Likud said, though it did not provide details on how the rotation would work.

RZP will also receive the immigration and absorption ministries.

RZP will reportedly also have a minister in the Defense Ministry to oversee affairs in Yehuda and Shomron, as well as a deputy ministership and chairmanship of the Knesset Legislation Committee, enabling it to advance its program to reform the judiciary.

RZP’s Betzalel Smotrich will step down from the Finance Ministry after two years, allowing Shas leader Rabbi Aryeh Deri for his turn, according to reports.

Shas is also to receive the interior and health ministries.

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