Netanyahu returns as PM, heads Israel’s most hardline government * 31 ministers; 5 of them women * Amir Ohana is new Speaker, first openly gay MK in post * Jordan warning

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Thursday, December 29, 2022 Presented by [Colel Chabad]( [Netanyahu returns as PM, wins Knesset support for Israel’s most hardline government]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Incoming coalition has pledged to hobble the High Court, consider West Bank annexation, and further centralize Orthodox control over state Jewish services [Netanyahu presents new government’s agenda; Lapid: ‘Try not to destroy the country’]( By TOI staff [Netanyahu said set to forgo traditional transfer-of-power ceremony with Lapid]( By TOI staff Live updates [LIVE: Lapid leaves Knesset without Netanyahu handshake as 37th government takes office]( By Michael Bachner Thousands protest outside Knesset against new hardline coalition as 31 new ministers and 5 deputy ministers take oaths; Amir Ohana becomes 1st LGBTQ Knesset speaker [Who’s who in the new Netanyahu-led government]( By TOI staff A look at the 31 ministers, just 5 of them women, in Israel’s 37th government from Likud and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox partners, and some of their newly created ministries [Ex-diplomats, ambassadors warn new government will hurt Israel’s global standing]( By TOI staff [Ra’am chief slams other Arab parties for helping bring down previous government]( By TOI staff from our sponsor [Want to end the year on a high note?]( Give a tax-deductible year-end gift to Colel Chabad to help fight hunger among Israel’s neediest. [Likud agrees to split entire Border Police from police force, hand Ben Gvir control]( By TOI staff Surprise clause in coalition deal says move to make the gendarmerie force ‘an independent service,’ subject it to authority of national security minister, to occur within 90 days [With rise in West Bank violence, military fears Ben Gvir’s changes to Border Police]( By Emanuel Fabian [The coalition deals / Otzma Yehudit deal includes control over Border Police, major boost to police funds]( By Jeremy Sharon [Netanyahu taps Yariv Levin as justice minister to oversee major judicial reforms]( By TOI staff Likud MK a longtime proponent of passing court override measure, boosting government control of judicial appointments and lowering age of retirement for Supreme Court justices [Netanyahu names Eli Cohen as foreign minister; Dermer gets strategic affairs post]( By Lazar Berman Profile Judah Ari Gross [Amichai Chikli, son of a Conservative rabbi, named Diaspora affairs minister]( Though the Likud lawmaker doesn’t identify with the progressive denomination, he has deep ties to it; as founder of a pre-army program, he’s connected to a variety of Jewish groups [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 29: What looms for Law of Return, and final coalition details]( By TOI staff [Jordan’s Abdullah warns Israel not to cross ‘red lines’ on Jerusalem holy sites]( By TOI staff Monarch says ‘quite prepared’ for conflict if Temple Mount status quo altered, expresses concern about potential third intifada [On last day in office, Gantz speaks to Abbas, says ‘critical’ to maintain dialogue]( By Emanuel Fabian [What looms for Law of Return, and final coalition details]( [listen to the podcast]( The coalition deals Jeremy Sharon [Religious Zionism coalition deal: Settlement growth, changes to discrimination laws]( Clauses in the far-right party’s agreement with Likud provide for strengthening West Bank presence and bolstering Orthodox Judaism [In WSJ op-ed, Smotrich says new government wants to make Israel more like America]( By TOI staff The coalition deals Carrie Keller-Lynn [Shas secures billions for welfare, healthcare, religious benefits in coalition deal]( NIS 5.85 billion to revamp healthcare, NIS 1 billion in direct food aid, and NIS 220 million to build or renovate religious buildings join a multitude of other promises secured [The coalition deals / Coalition deal hands far-right Noam $125m for ‘Jewish national identity’ office]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Top Ops David Bernstein [How American Jews should navigate Israel’s new political reality]( 3 key ways to move forward in your relationship with the Jewish state, even if you find its new leadership and their promises distasteful Amir Avivi [Mr. Netanyahu, your job is to improve Israeli security – dramatically]( Israel must address the buildup of substantial terror armies at its doorstep, from Iran and its proxies to Hamas and the Palestinian Authority [President asks Ben Gvir to ‘calm stormy waters,’ serve interests of whole population]( By Ash Obel In meeting with incoming police minister, Herzog notes many across Israel and Jewish world have deep concerns over new government; Ben Gvir responds, ‘I’ll serve the entire nation’ [AG asks court to reject ‘premature’ suit against Ben Gvir’s appointment as minister]( By TOI staff Author interview [99-year-old Holocaust survivor is a final portal into vibrant life of prewar Rhodes]( By Renee Ghert-Zand In ‘One Hundred Saturdays,’ Stella Levi shares with author Michael Frank her memories of centuries-old traditions of the Aegean island’s Sephardic community destroyed by the Nazis [Gantz tells graduating pilots they could be flying to attack Iran in 2-3 years]( By Emanuel Fabian Outgoing PM Lapid boasts of Israel’s capabilities to conduct long-range strikes; President Herzog warns that air force can attack ‘any time and by any means, including Iran’ [US in major effort to choke Iran’s drone program, end supply to Russia — NY Times]( By TOI staff [GOP Congressman-elect George Santos investigated for lying about his past]( By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Long Island prosecutors launch probe into falsehoods and fabrications about NY Representative-elect’s heritage, education, professional background [Jewish groups shore up Ukrainian communities for an uncertain, freezing winter]( By Judah Ari Gross As Russia bombs infrastructure, attention turns away from emigration toward keeping those still there warm and fed, with electricity, clothing and Hanukkah necessities [Ukraine says Russia fired ‘massive’ barrage of over 120 missiles]( By AFP [Italian Jewish leaders slam parliament president for honoring neo-fascist party]( By David I. Klein Ignazio La Russa, co-founder of Prime Minister Meloni’s FDI party, posts on Instagram linking his father’s far-right faction to the anniversary of Italy’s post-WWII constitution [CRM]( More Headlines [Israeli tech exits plunge 80% to $16.9 billion in 2022, battered by market reality]( By Sharon Wrobel [Israel earmarks NIS 21.6 million to boost Arab employment in high-tech]( By Sharon Wrobel [Tel Aviv residents bash new development plans for city’s Brutalist Atarim plaza]( By Danielle Nagler [From the web / How a windfall of special education funding benefited Hasidic schools in New York]( [Planet parade / All planets in solar system visible in night sky simultaneously]( By TOI staff [US, others to require travelers from China to submit negative COVID tests]( By Carla K. Johnson [Muslim makeover / In Turkey, Orthodox drama ‘Shtisel’ adapted for Muslim audience]( By David I. Klein [Leading Democrat Jamie Raskin announces he has ‘serious but curable’ cancer]( By Ron Kampeas [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2022 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved