Israeli Politicians Vie for Key Ministry Portfolios Amid Coalition Talks

As election results continue to unfold, the gap between the right-wing bloc and the change bloc highlights an intensifying political landscape. While the ultimate composition of the next government remains uncertain, intense backstage maneuvering for key ministerial portfolios has already begun.

In a potential right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, two prominent candidates are vying for the influential Ministry of Finance. The incumbent Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, has made it clear he intends to secure another term and remains firmly within the right-wing bloc. His primary contender is Eli Cohen, who secured the top spot in the Likud primaries and currently serves as number two on the party list. Cohen has publicly stated that the treasury portfolio should remain under Likud control.

However, coalition dynamics and the demands of ultra-Orthodox factions will heavily influence Netanyahu's final appointments. In a narrow right-wing coalition, Smotrich's position is bolstered by his party's projected seven mandates, rendering him indispensable to achieving a stable majority. Conversely, a wider margin for the bloc could increase Cohen's prospects, echoing past instances where Netanyahu delegated the treasury to key partners, such as Moshe Kahlon in 2015 and Smotrich in 2022.

The race for the Ministry of Construction and Housing is similarly competitive. The incumbent minister, Haim Katz of Likud, took office in 2025 following the resignation of Yitzhak Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism amid the military draft law crisis. Goldknopf, now serving as number two in his party, is widely expected to seek a return to the housing portfolio should Netanyahu form the government.

Meanwhile, the alternative bloc presents distinct contenders for key economic portfolios. Shaul Meridor, former head of the Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance who resigned in 2020 citing procedural pressures, emerged as a prominent candidate alongside Gadi Eizenkot. Additionally, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beytenu with a projected eight mandates, remains a viable candidate for the treasury given his previous tenure as finance minister from 2021 to 2022.

Regarding housing policy, the BeYachad alliance led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid presented a comprehensive housing plan featuring one thousand long-term rental apartments within a decade and substantial housing grants for active reservists. While Lapid has expressed interest in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the housing portfolio is anticipated to align with Bennett's faction, as neither political bloc has yet secured the definitive sixty-one mandates required to form a majority.