Confirmation of Diplomatic-Security Cabinet postponed

In an unusual move, the government on Tuesday refrained from confirming the makeup of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet. The move followed a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sought to postpone the decision on the members of the forum.

Under Israeli law, the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet must number up to half the number of government ministers, which in the case of the current government is 10 ministers. During the coalition negotiations, however, 11 ministers were promised a seat on the cabinet.

The purview of the Defense, Justice, Public Security and Foreign ministries guarantees their ministers a seat on the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet. Currently, however, ministers have yet to be assigned to the Foreign Ministry and the Public Security Ministry.

Heads of the coalition factions -- Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett, Shas leader Aryeh Deri, and Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon -- are also guaranteed a cabinet seat.

The remaining three seats are reserved for Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, Minister Benny Begin, and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz.

Construction Minister Yoav Gallant (Kulanu) is also likely to get a seat on the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, as Kahlon seeks to offset the fact that Habayit Hayehudi had been given two seats on the cabinet, by demanding his party be extended the same courtesy.

National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz and Immigrant Absorption Minister Zeev Elkin are also eyeing a cabinet seat.

Sources familiar with the issue told Israel Hayom that Netanyahu is trying to broker a solution by which both Steinitz and Elkin could become cabinet members.

One of the proposed solutions is to allow ministers to act as cabinet "observers," but that will leave them devoid of the right to vote on cabinet decisions.

Another issue that has yet to be resolved is Likud MK Gilad Erdan's cabinet seat, which he will be entitled to if he joins the government as public security minister.

Also on Tuesday, the government officially inducted seven deputy ministers: Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely as deputy foreign minister, United Torah Judaism Chairman Yakov Litzman as deputy health minister, MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) as deputy education minister, MK Yitzhak Cohen (Shas) as deputy finance minister, MK Meshulam Nahari (Shas) as deputy welfare and social services minister, Habayit Hayehudi MK Eli Ben-Dahan as deputy defense minister and Likud MK Ayoob Kara as deputy regional cooperation minister.

The government further confirmed the makeup of the Social-Economic and Housing cabinets, confirming Netanyahu as head of the Social-Economic Cabinet and Kahlon as head of the Housing Cabinet.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was confirmed as head of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

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