The thirty-fourth government of Israel, (Hebrew:ממשלת ישראל השלושים וארבע) also known as the Fourth Netanyahu Government, was the government of Israel, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu between 2015 and 2020. It was formed after the March 2015 Knesset election. The coalition that made up the government, consisting of Likud, United Torah Judaism, Shas, Kulanu and the Jewish Home, was submitted to the President of Israel just before the deadline on 6 May 2015. Government ministers were introduced, approved by the Knesset and sworn in on 14 May. Deputy ministers were sworn in on 19 May. On 29 December 2018, the newly formed New Right party became a coalition partner, after splitting from the Jewish Home.
Between them, the coalition parties held 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. The elections that led to the formation of the government were a result of events on 2 December 2014, when Netanyahu dismissed two of his ministers, whose parties' members subsequently resigned from the 33rd government, dissolving the government ahead of schedule.
During the 34th government, several corruption cases arose in regards to Netanyahu. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked stated that even if indicted, Netanyahu would still be able to continue as Prime Minister. On 26 December 2018, Knesset members officially passed a law dispersing the Knesset. The Knesset reassembled following the April 2019 Israeli legislative election, only to be dispersed once again on 30 May 2019 after Netanyahu failed to form a new cabinet.
Recommendations
Terms of coalition agreements are considered binding law in Israel. As such, parties must adhere to the agreements made with the Prime Minister when the coalition was formed.
Changes to the responsibilities of official positions include the relinquishment of the Justice Minister's ability to appoint judges to religious courts. Also, the Religious Affairs Minister will not have control over affairs connected to conversion to Judaism; that will be under the purview of the Prime Minister's office.
Coalition agreements
In April 2015, Likud reached an agreement with Kulanu, where Kulanu agreed to support the implementation of the Norwegian Law, allowing members of the Knesset to exit the Knesset upon receiving a post in the cabinet. In return, Likud agreed to raise the salary of soldiers, give unemployment insurance to self-employed workers and set a biennial budget by October 2015. Likud also signed separate agreements with United Torah Judaism, which involved social services including childcare and dental care, and with Shas.
On 6 May, just hours before the deadline, Likud secured an agreement with The Jewish Home. The agreement would increase NIS 630 million ($163.4 million) for the education budget, an allocation of NIS 1 billion ($259 million) to raise soldiers' pay during their third year of service, a budget increase for Ariel University in the West Bank, and support for the so-called NGO bill. This gave the coalition 61 Knesset seats just enough to govern, with the government sworn in on 14 May.
Policy guidelines
The policy guidelines for the 34th government included, but were not limited to:
- Strengthening the rule of law
- Reducing the cost of living
- Increasing competition, especially in the financial sector, and granting easier access to credit for small and medium businesses
- Integrating disabled persons into society, in providing education and employment aid
- Advancing the peace process with the Palestinians and other neighbors, while keeping Israel's national interests
Members of government
Ministers
These ministers served during the 20th Knesset from 2015 to 2018. However, as both the April 2019 and September 2019 elections failed to produce a government, the ministers remained in a caretaking capacity. On 17 May 2020, the ministers ended their posts with the formation of the 35th government.
Deri resigned his post as Minister of the Economy, reportedly over an unpopular gas monopoly deal. Netanyahu took over the portfolio, and promised to speed up the deal. Netanyahu resigned his post as Minister of Communications following an investigation into his relationship with the media, and was replaced temporarily by Tzachi Hanegbi. The Ministry for Senior Citizens was renamed Ministry for Social Equality in August 2015.
Policies
Economy
In June 2015, finance minister Moshe Kahlon announced a temporary measure to increase taxes on second home purchases in order to deter investors from buying up real estate. This tax hike ended in July 2020 when it reverted back to 5%.
In June 2016, the finance ministry reached an agreement with the Bank of Israel to create a committee aimed at improving economic competition in the banking sector. In December, the Knesset passed legislation that would separate credit card companies from banks in three years along with other reforms in the sector.
National identity
In July 2018, the Knesset passed Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, which defined the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.