Netanyahu has until Dec. 21 to finalize all his coalition agreements and form a new government
A new speaker will enable incoming coalition to push through its legislative agenda
Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich said the proposed law was “the most justified demand in the world”
Leaders from Israeli opposition parties called on Herzog not to grant Netanyahu’s request for an extension
Party leader Aryeh Deri – twice convicted of tax fraud – will be Israel’s deputy prime minister, interior minister and serve as health minister and finance minister in a rotation
The other ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, remains the major holdout in coalition talks
As deadline for Israeli government coalition decision approaches, Netanyahu may ask for extension
Blinken’s remarks contrast reports indicating the Biden administration will hesitate to work with far-right hardliners in key positions