Lapid’s eight-party coalition government nears finishing line

Opposition leader Yair Lapid believes that the remaining gaps over top posts and ideology still dividing the eight partners of his future government can be overcome by the Wednesday midnight deadline for his mandate.
The top posts have been provisionally mapped out, although some dickering is still in progress. Meanwhile, it is agreed that Lapid himself will hold foreign affairs until mid-term when he takes over the premiership from Naftali Bennett; defense goes to Benny Gantz; Treasury to Avigdor Lieberman; Justice to Gideon Saar; Interior to Ayelet Shaked; Education – Yifat Sasha-Biton; Transportation – Merav Michaeli; Health – Nitzan Horowitz; Home security – Omer Barlev; Environment – Tamar Sandberg; Social Welfare – Orna Barbibai; Religious Affairs – Matan Kahane.

The leaders of this nascent government have agreed to initially avoid pursuing issues hotly contested among its far left and ultraright members, such as the Palestinian question, and focus instead on consensual aspects of social and economic policy.