As Benjamin Netanyahu tries to put together a coalition government after last month’s landmark elections in Israel, he faces the additional task of finding a replacement for Stanley Fischer, the much-admired governor of the Bank of Israel. What will these elections mean for businesses and investors, both local and international? In this op-ed, economic analyst and consultant Pinchas Landau notes that over the short run, experts expect pressure on corporate profits to be stepped up — via tighter regulation; more activist consumerism among the general public; new legislation aimed at breaking up conglomerates and ceilings on executive compensation.

Major discoveries of natural gas by Israel, a country that imports virtually all of its energy requirements, have created a wealth of potential opportunities for the country. But the finds also come with significant economic, political and geo-political challenges as Israel seeks to reduce its trade deficit and embrace a cheaper, environmentally cleaner energy source. Although the government has made some progress in resolving some of the critical issues surrounding the natural gas discoveries, several questions remain unanswered.