Israel's 37th Government

The results of the 2022 elections pointed to a clear victory to the "Netanyahu Bloc". The four right-wing lists associated with this bloc won a majority of 64 seats and therefore the President of Israel tasked Netanyahu with forming the government. Despite initial statements that the goal was to establish a government "within two weeks", the coalition negotiations dragged on and finally the 37th government was sworn in only on December 29, almost two months after the elections. The government includes Bezalel Smotrich as Minister of Finance (in addition to the position of a Minister in the Ministry of Defense), Yoav Galant as Minister of Defense and Eli Cohen as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In October 2023, on the background of Israel's war with Hamas, the National Unity Party joined the ruling coalition. Five of its MKs were appointed as ministers. Currently the government includes 38 ministers, and it is the biggest government ever.