Leading up to government swearing in, Likud division continues • Steinitz will continue at the Ministry of Energy on gas and electricity • Galant appointed Education Minister, as first published in Israel Today • Gideon Sa'ar not appointed Minister • Barkat and Dichter invited to meetings, but it is unclear if they will be joined by government

• Netanyahu and Elkin in the plenum will be appointed Minister of Higher Education and Water, who will later serve in transport

  Photo: 

  Oren Ben Hakun

• Galant and Steinitz at the Knesset plenum received files

  Photo: 

  Noam Rivkin Fenton

• Will they be left without a bag? Barkat and Dichter

  Photo: 

  Yehoshua Yosef, Oren Ben Hakun

The Likud round of preparations for the establishment of the 35th government continues: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced to Ze'ev Elkin his appointment as Minister of Higher and Secondary Education and the role of Minister of Water Resources. Later Elkin will move to the post of Minister of Transport. In addition, Minister Elkin will be a member of the Security Cabinet, and will act as Deputy Prime Minister, headed by the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Cabinet and as Minister responsible for the Nativ organization.

Elkin will continue to chair the joint committees with Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan governments, and will coordinate the handling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 

According to the announcement of Elkin's appointment, "The Ministry of Higher and Advanced Education will include the Planning and Budgeting Committee, the Higher Education Institutions, the Community Center for Education, Yad Vashem and various departments of the Ministry of Education - Adult Education Division, Jewish Culture Division, Social Administration and Youth (without the related units). Direct to formal education) and senior foreign relations department and UNESCO. The Ministry of Water Resources will include the water authority, sources, water corporations and sewers and all water issues that were the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy. "

In addition, Yuval Steinitz has also entered the government: he will continue in the energy portfolio, but will continue to be responsible for electricity and gas - without the issue of water resources. Prime Minister Netanyahu on Steinitz's position: "Glad to announce that Minister Steinitz will continue to be a key partner in the government in his position as Minister of Energy. Minister Steinitz has led the formulation of the gas scheme and its implementation as part of the State of Israel's transformation of energy power." . 

"Israel Today" has learned that Elkin's appointment has paved the way for Steinitz to remain in the Ministry of Energy. Elkin, who wanted the energy portfolio, decided to disagree on leaving his colleague at the cabinet's edge. In agreement with Steinitz and the Prime Minister, he agreed to accept the higher education and water sectors. Talks between Elkin, Steinitz and their people were held at the Prime Minister's office in the morning.

Earlier, Netanyahu's decision was reported to appoint Minister Yoav Galant as Minister of Education, as first published in Israel Today. At the same time, Minister Galant, who previously served as a champion in the IDF, will also be a member of the defense political cabinet.

Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed the nomination, saying that "I am pleased to announce that I have decided to appoint Minister Galant as the next Minister of Education of Israel. Minister Galant has worked extensively for Israel's security in his various positions in the IDF and is currently a member of the Security Cabinet. "The housing issue in Israel in his role as Minister of Construction and Housing, and he has worked greatly to encourage immigration to Israel in his role as Minister of Immigration and Absorption. The State of Israel has many challenges and together we will continue to work to improve the strength and security of the State of Israel."

Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday decides to appoint Minister Gila Gamaliel to serve as Minister of Environmental Protection. "Glad to announce that I have decided to appoint Minister Gila Gamaliel to serve as Minister of Environmental Protection. Minister Gamaliel has successfully led the Israeli Digital Initiative together with many other achievements in favor of Israeli citizens in the ministry. For social equality, she has a great deal of experience and I am happy that she will continue to be a partner in the government and the challenges we face, "the PM said of her appointment.

Bennett and Shaked Against the Unity Government // Photo Archive: Ami Shamir

After the "uprising" that broke out among Likud officials on Thursday and prompted the inauguration, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a series of meetings tonight into the wee hours. The minister revealed Gamliel, who refused the proposal to accept a portfolio for higher education, was informed last night that she would win the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Eli Cohen, formerly of "All of us," was appointed Minister of Intelligence.

Gideon Sa'ar, who met with the prime minister, will not be appointed minister. He wrote on Twitter: "It is a great privilege to serve the people of Israel and the State of Israel as a Knesset member." 

It is a great privilege to serve the people of Israel and the State of Israel as a Knesset member.

- Gideon Saar (@gidonsaar) May 17, 2020

Avi Dichter was summoned to a meeting with Netanyahu after initially it seemed almost impossible to fit into the new government. Dichter even threatened to boycott the swearing-in on Thursday, thereby contributing to the swearing-in for Sunday. Minister Tzachi Hanegbi also issued a similar threat. It is unclear whether Dichter and Hanegbi, who were not invited at all, will be appointed ministers.

List of Likud ministers in the following: 

MK Yuval Steinitz - Minister of Energy (without water, will deal with electricity and gas)

Minister Elkin - Minister of Higher Education and Water Resources, in the second part of the term, will serve as Minister of Transport

MK Yoav Galant - Minister of Education

MK Israel Katz - Minister of Finance 

MK Miri Regev - Minister of Transport and National Infrastructure, and after the Foreign Minister's rotation 

MK Joel Edelstein - Minister of Health

MK Amir Ohana - Minister of Public Security

MK Eli Cohen - Minister of Intelligence 

MK Gila Gamliel - Environment Minister 

MK Ophir Akunis - Minister for Regional Development 

MK Dudi Amsalem - the minister who links the government to the Knesset