Far-right forces are also involved in the new coalition, and the longtime head of government argues: “They are joining me. I will not join them.” Putin also congratulated the new government.
Israel’s prime minister-designate, Benjamin Netanyahu, is aiming for a swift inauguration of his new religious right-wing government. The 73-year-old chairman of the right-wing conservative Likud party told President Yitzhak Herzog late on Wednesday that his aim was to achieve that next week. Formally, this must be done by January 2 at the latest.
Netanyahu completed his comeback seven weeks after winning Israel’s general election. For his return to power after a year and a half, the former longtime head of government also relies on right-wing extremists. His reform plans raise concerns about democracy in Israel. In addition to Netanyahu’s right-wing conservative Likud party, the far-right Religious Zionist Alliance and two strictly religious parties will be represented in the coalition. It is the most right-wing government Israel has ever had. Part of the alliance is also an openly homophobic politician.
During his phone conversation with Herzog, Netanyahu stressed that the new government would “take care of all citizens of Israel”. Herzog wished him every success. He also reiterated the need to defend all communities. “I hope that all of you will commit to this task,” Herzog said.
Netanyahu made the announcement minutes before the midnight deadline local time. After winning Israel’s parliamentary elections on November 1, he initially had 28 days to form the government. This period was then extended for another ten days.
Laws against the will of the Federal Supreme Court
The new government wants to push through far-reaching policy changes – which could also play into Netanyahu’s hands in his ongoing corruption trial. Several controversial legislative changes have already been initiated, which are considered a prerequisite for a joint coalition agreement.
The new government also wants to implement the so-called overcoming clause. This would allow a majority in the Knesset to pass laws even if the Supreme Court found them illegal. Before the new government is sworn in, a change in the law is planned to allow the leader of the strictly religious Shas party, Aryeh Deri, to become interior minister despite being convicted of tax violations.
Ironically, right-wing conservative Netanyahu is probably the most liberal politician in his own government, said a researcher at the University of Haifa’s Minerva Center, which studies the state of the judiciary under extreme conditions.
supporters of settlement expansion
Netanyahu is a statesman and tries to allay concerns. In view of his controversial coalition partners, he emphasized in an interview with a North American radio that he is the one who gives the direction of the government. “They join me. I don’t join them.”
Bezalel Smotrich of the far-right Religious Zionist Party is also considered an ardent supporter of expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. He himself will become finance minister, but his party is also likely to have a strong influence on West Bank governance in the future. Smotrich intends to legalize more Israeli settlements.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, convicted of supporting a terrorist organization, becomes Minister of National Security. He wants to gain more influence over the police by changing the law. He is also responsible for the border police, which are particularly active in the West Bank. That means “direct control by a minister whose ideology is clearly racist and anti-Palestinian,” explains law professor Alexandre Kedar of the University of Haifa.
Palestinians spot confrontation
The leader of the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar, accused the new government of seeking a “religious war”. He spoke of “open confrontation” and called on President Mahmoud Abbas’ more moderate Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to end security cooperation with Israel.
The first official supporter on Thursday was Russian President Vladimir Putin. Netanyahu’s office said he called Netanyahu and congratulated him on winning the election and forming a government. The two politicians talked about other matters, mainly the war in Ukraine. During his previous terms, Netanyahu’s relationship with Putin was considered close. The longtime Israeli prime minister visited Moscow frequently and even appeared on an election poster with the Kremlin chief in 2019 under the headline: “Netanyahu – a different league”.
Netanyahu’s campaign won 64 of 120 seats in the November 1 election. It was Israel’s fifth election in three and a half years. In the history of Israel, no one has been in office longer than Netanyahu. He was prime minister from 1996 to 1999, and again continuously from 2009 to 2021.
(APA/dpa)