Half of New Israeli MKs Lack Economic Expertise Amid Rising Cost of Living Concerns
As candidate lists for Israel's upcoming elections are finalized ahead of the September 7-8 submission deadline, two troubling trends have emerged. First, aside from parties led by Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, very few new candidates possess economic backgrounds capable of addressing the country's soaring cost of living. Second, the next Knesset is expected to lose much of its parliamentary experience, as many veteran MKs are likely to become ministers, leaving inexperienced newcomers to manage committee oversight and government supervision.
This shortage of candidates with economic and managerial expertise raises doubts about the Knesset's ability to translate campaign promises, such as lowering prices, expanding social services, and increasing budgets, into responsible economic policies with sustainable funding. Established parties like Likud, Yesh Atid, the Democratic camp (formerly Labor), Religious Zionism, Shas, the State Camp, and Arab factions have added almost no new candidates with significant economic credentials.
In contrast, newer parties likely to pass the electoral threshold have recruited notable figures with economic and managerial experience. Eisenkot's list includes former Treasury budget director Shaul Meridor and ex-Ministry of Labor CEO Tehila Afrgan. Bennett's party features three former senior civil servants: Keren Turner, former Transportation Ministry CEO; Liran Abisher Ben-Horin, former Communications Ministry CEO; and Michal Nagari, former CEO of Ra'anana municipality. Despite this, the number of economically skilled candidates remains small at a time when the government will face tough decisions on deficit reduction and cost of living relief.
The next Knesset may see 40 to 50 new MKs, mainly in Yesh Atid, Bennett's party, and the Democrats, alongside generational changes in established parties. Many senior MKs, including Naama Lazimi, Yair Lapid, and Avigdor Lieberman, are expected to become ministers if their parties join the government, shifting experienced lawmakers away from parliamentary committees. Key committee chairmanships such as Finance, Constitution, and Foreign Affairs are likely to be held by veteran MKs not appointed as ministers, while most other committees will be led by newcomers.
Political challenges persist, with opposition benches potentially filled by former ministers unwilling to serve as committee heads. Meanwhile, despite the election recess, the Finance Committee is convening to approve budget transfers, some with political implications. MKs Vladimir Beliak and Naor Shiri have petitioned to cancel additional budget discussions, arguing they violate prior agreements limiting such meetings during the recess. Similar concerns were raised by MKs Naama Lazimi and Orit Farkash Hacohen, who accuse the moves of enabling immediate, politically motivated funding allocations totaling hundreds of millions of shekels.
