Who they are
Israel Katz was born in Ashkelon on 21 September 1955 to Holocaust survivors from Romania and grew up on Moshav Kfar Ahim. He served in the Paratroopers Brigade from 1973 to 1977 and left as a captain, read political science at the Hebrew University, and ran a worker-placement company. He entered the Knesset in 1998 and as transport minister from 2009 to 2019 opened the ports to competition.
Positions and record
Security: Buffer zones and permanent freedom of operation.
Infrastructure: Opened the ports to competition and drove the rail build-out as transport minister.
Haredi draft: Set out enlistment quotas with sanctions in 2025, then voted for the 2026 law barring arrests of evaders.
West Bank policing: Ordered the IDF in August 2026 to plan handing civilian law enforcement there to the police.
Where they stand
Breaks with the party line on 1 issue, marked below.
Judea & Samariaparty lineSovereignty over every part of the Land of Israel, pursued through budgets and construction rather than annexation bills, and no Palestinian state.
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securitypersonal positionSet up a ministry directorate in 2025 to arrange departures by sea, air and land for Gazans who want to leave
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineIt governs with the Haredi parties and in July 2026 barred the arrest of draft evaders, while its own aims require regular service of every citizen.
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineThe judicial selection law takes effect with the next Knesset, giving the coalition the decisive voice in appointments. No override clause is sought.
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineA national liberal movement for the free market and social equality together, with government out of the economy as far as it can go.
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineJewish tradition taught through the schools, and the core-studies rule kept on the books without ever being used to cut a budget.
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineThe religious status quo, governed with its Haredi partners, alongside a guarantee of freedom of conscience.
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineThe Nation-State Law and Jewish self-determination, set beside equal rights for every citizen and the integration of minorities into the state.
Equal citizenshipJewish national state
