Who they are
Barkat was born in 1959 and built a career as a technology entrepreneur and investor, co-founding the BRM group and backing Check Point early. He led the municipal opposition in Jerusalem after losing the 2003 mayoral race, won the mayoralty in 2008 and served until 2018. He entered the Knesset in 2019 and has been economy and industry minister since December 2022.
Positions and record
Import standards: Wants any product meeting a European or American standard admitted without an Israeli one.
Cost of living: Ran a tender making supermarket chains bid discounts on a fixed basket of 100 products.
Land policy: Wants the Israel Land Authority's powers cut to bring down land prices in the periphery.
Where they stand
Breaks with the party line on 1 issue, marked below.
Judea & Samariaparty linePro-settlement, no Palestinian state; annexation deferred
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineBacks the Trump plan on Israel's terms: disarm Hamas first
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineNegotiated arrangement with Haredi allies
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineAdvance override and appointments reform
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economypersonal positionInitiated the laws admitting goods certified to EU or US standards without an Israeli one, and wants the Israel Land Authority broken up
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineWants the core-studies rule kept, but never used to cut funding
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineStatus quo with religious partners
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineNation-State Law, Jewish self-determination only
Equal citizenshipJewish national state