Netanyahu meets deadline for forming a cabinet coalition

Binyamin Netanyahu was just able to meet his Wednesday midnight deadline for forming a coalition government based on 61 MKs out of 120 after winding up negotiations with Habayit Hayehud in the nick of time. They will discuss the details before signing their deal Thursday. Naphtali Bennett is Minister of Education and Diaspora, Ayelet Shaked Justice Minister and head of the Legislative Committee – but will not chair the committee for appointing judges. Uri Uriel keeps the agriculture portfolio. Bennett and Shaked will have seats on the security cabinet.  The party also received the post of deputy defense minister. Netanyahu has still to assign 10 portfolios to his own Likud, before presenting the complete lineup to the Knesset.