JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The new Israeli government set to end Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s 12-year tenure as prime minister signed its final coalition agreements on Friday, pointedly including term limits.<\/p>\n
The coalition of parties from far-right to left is expected to focus mostly on economic and social issues rather than risk exposing internal rifts by trying to address major diplomatic issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu, Israel\u2019s longest-serving leader, will be succeeded on Sunday by a coalition that includes for the first time a party from Israel\u2019s Arab minority.<\/p>\n
Under a power-sharing agreement, Naftali Bennett, of the ultra-nationalist Yamina (Rightwards) party, will serve as prime minister for two years.<\/p>\n
Bennett on Friday said the coalition \u201cbrings to an end two and a half years of political crisis\u201d, although it was unclear how long the coalition\u2019s disparate elements would hold together. He will then hand over to Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party.<\/p>\n
Among the agreements outlined by parties in what Lapid described as a \u201cunity government\u201d are:* Limiting the prime minister\u2019s term of office to two terms, or eight years.<\/p>\n
* An infrastructure push to include new hospitals, a new university and a new airport.<\/p>\n
* Passing a two-year budget to help stabilize the country\u2019s finances – the prolonged political stalemate has left Israel still using a pro-rated version of a base 2019 budget that was ratified in mid-2018.<\/p>\n
* Maintaining the \u201cstatus-quo\u201d on issues of religion and state, with Bennett\u2019s Yamina party to have a veto. Possible reforms include breaking up an ultra-Orthodox monopoly on overseeing which foods are kosher, and decentralizing authority over Jewish conversions.<\/p>\n
* An \u201coverall plan for transportation\u201d in the Israeli- occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n
* A general goal to \u201censure Israel\u2019s interests\u201d in areas of the West Bank under full Israeli control.* Allocating more than 53 billion shekels ($16 billion) to improve infrastructure and welfare in Arab towns, and curbing violent crime there.<\/p>\n
* Decriminalizing marijuana and moving to regulate the market.<\/p>\n
($1 = 3.2529 shekels)<\/p>\n