Demonstration against the far-right government of Binyamin Netanyahu in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Thursday December 29, 2022. AMMAR AWAD/ Portal
Benyamin Netanyahu presented his new government on Thursday morning, December 29, in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The deputies must express their confidence in him; a formality given the majority of seats he has held since the November 1 general election.
The Likud leader (right), accused of multiple corruption charges, was ousted from power by a ragtag coalition in June 2021 but promised a return to business by allying himself with the far right. Like the coalition put together by the 1970s, Thursday’s detailed government is the most right-wing in the country’s history.
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His Jewish supremacists and ultra-Orthodox allies are given key positions. Itamar Ben Gvir, convicted of inciting hatred and supporting a terrorist organization, becomes Minister of Public Security. Religious ultra-nationalist Bezalel Smotrich, who has been appointed Treasurer, will govern Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. They are two men known for their anti-Palestinian rhetoric and their positions in favor of the annexation of part of the West Bank.
The government’s mission will be to “thwart Iran’s efforts to acquire a nuclear arsenal,” “ensure Israel’s military superiority in the region,” while “broadening the circle of peace” with Arab countries,” Netanyahu said the parliament.
Different voices
Within the Likud, Mr Netanyahu’s conservative party, Yariv Levin, the outgoing Speaker of the Knesset, is taking over the Justice Ministry. Yoav Galant, who is close to the head of government and ex-commander of the southern region, is appointed to defence. Eli Cohen, former secret service minister who played an important role in normalizing relations between Israel and Arab countries, is appointed head of diplomacy. Ron Dermer, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, takes over the Department of Strategic Affairs.
Former minister Amir Ohana was elected the new Speaker of the Knesset on Thursday, a first for an openly gay lawmaker in this country. This Likud member, who has been a deputy since 2015, was elected by 63 votes in favour, five against and one abstention in a vote by the deputies. According to the protocol, this makes him the country’s third personality, after the President and the Prime Minister.
As in 2021, when he was ousted from power, Benyamin Netanyahu refused a transfer of power ceremony. A simple working meeting is scheduled with Yaïr Lapid, who took office in the interim government in June.
Even before the new government was presented, dissenting voices had been raised within the Likud. Hundreds of people, including several rainbow flag carriers, demonstrated against the new government in front of Parliament on Thursday. The coalition now in power includes Avi Maoz’s Noam formation, openly anti-LGBTQ+.
Opponents of the government also deplore their stated desire to weaken the judiciary and extend political prerogatives to the police and army. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara recently expressed fears of reforms that would limit the powers of judges and a “politicization of law enforcement” that would “deal a serious blow to the most fundamental principles of the rule of law”. .
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