In Israel, a New Government Adjusts to New Priorities

After nearly two months of negotiations following general elections, Israel is finally set to form its new government. On May 6, a few hours before a legally mandated deadline for forming a coalition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to an agreement for the creation of a ruling coalition. With only 61 of the legislature's 120 seats, this coalition will be both weak and unstable. The new government will also be more conservative than Netanyahu's previous government, making the reversal of earlier domestic reforms and tension between member parties equally likely. Coupled with an isolated Hamas, a less active United States and more prominent regional powers, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, Israel's new government will have many challenges to grapple with in a dramatically changing environment.