Tel Aviv, Dec 29, (dpa/GNA) – Almost two months after Israel’s parliamentary election, the new government of the winner, Benjamin Netanyahu, is due to be sworn in in Jerusalem.
It is the most right-wing government Israel has ever had, with far-right politicians also represented in a coalition for the first time.
The new government wants to implement far-reaching political changes and, among other things, deliberately weaken the judicial system. According to experts, the changes could also lead to the cancellation of Netanyahu’s trial for corruption that is currently under way.
Even before the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, several controversial legislative changes were pushed through parliament. These were considered a prerequisite for a joint coalition agreement.
This is the sixth government formed by the conservative Likud leader Netanyahu. The former prime minister is returning to power, after a year and a half in opposition.
In Israel’s history, no one has been in office longer than the 73-year-old.
The new government has 64 of 120 seats in parliament. Half of them belong to Netanyahu’s Likud party, the other half to the far-right Religious Zionist Alliance and two strictly religious parties.
Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed that he himself will set the agenda of the new government, and will not be steered by his radical partners.
Several controversial politicians have been given ministerial posts.
A law was specially amended for the leader of the strict religious Shas party, Aryeh Deri, so that he can become minister of the interior, despite a conviction for tax offences.
Bezalel Smotrich of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, is to be given a ministerial role in the Defence Ministry in addition to the post of finance minister.
Smotrich is considered an ardent supporter of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. In future, he is also to be given influence over the administration of the West Bank and the lives of Palestinians. Smotrich seeks the legalization of more Israeli settlements.
Government guidelines published on Wednesday state, that the coalition wants to press ahead with settlement expansion in areas that the Palestinians claim for a future state.
“The Jewish people have a sole and irrevocable right to all parts of the Land of Israel,” it says. “The government will advance and develop settlement in all parts of Israel – in the Galilee, the Negev Desert, the Golan Heights and Judea and Samaria (West Bank).”
The minister of national security will be Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right figure who has been convicted in the past of supporting a terrorist organization.
In addition to the police, he will also be in charge of the border police in the West Bank, following an amendment to the law.
In view of the changes, outgoing Defence Minister Benny Gantz warned of a further escalation of violence and bloodshed in the region.
In view of racist and homophobic statements by future coalition members, resistance is already being voiced by various sections of the population. Protests have come from representatives of the IT industry, businesses, the air force and doctors.
Netanyahu’s predecessor in office, Yair Lapid of the liberal Future Party, said after the changes in the law that the new government had already proven to be “the most corrupt ever” even before it was sworn in.
GNA