Likud Party lawmaker Amir Ohana is the frontrunner to be named Israel’s next foreign minister, while fellow party member Miri Regev has been tapped to head up the Education Ministry, sources said on Tuesday.
Previously, it had been thought that former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer was the leading candidate to become Jerusalem’s top diplomat, and that the Biden administration was advocating for his appointment.
The report comes after several Likud legislators criticized Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu for what they view as his concession of too many high-ranking ministerial positions to prospective coalition partners.
On Monday, Religious Zionism Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich purportedly agreed to become Israel’s next finance minister, walking back his demand for control of the Defense Ministry and seemingly paving the way for Netanyahu to finalize the makeup of a governing coalition.
Netanyahu is now most likely to appoint Likud legislator and former IDF major general Yoav Gallant as defense minister, while Shas leader Aryeh Deri will, subject to his legal standing being clarified, head the Interior Ministry.
Oztma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir is on track to be named public security minister, which would give him control over the police.
Netanyahu has until Dec. 6, with the possibility of a 14-day extension, to finalize coalition deals.