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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| New Netanyahu government sworn in, the usual vicious nonsense resumes |
| 2022-12-30 |
All articles from the Times of Israel. Netanyahu returns as PM, wins Knesset support for Israel’s most hardline governmentIncoming coalition, approved by 63-54 votes, has pledged to hobble the High Court, consider West Bank annexation, and further centralize Orthodox control over state Jewish services Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore in Israel’s 37th government on Thursday, promising that his right-religious coalition will deliver political stability after five bumpy back-to-back elections since 2019. Confidence in the government was confirmed by 63 of the 64 coalition members, constituting a relatively solid and cohesive majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Fifty-four MKs voted against. With a total of 15 years in two stints in the country’s top seat — he is now beginning his third — Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. This will be his sixth government, and by allying far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties to his right-wing Likud, it will be his and the country’s most hardline to date. According to coalition agreements signed between Likud and each of its five partner parties, as well as its published guiding principles, the incoming government will prioritize comprehensive judicial reform, including a commitment to pass a High Court override law designed to reduce judicial checks on executive and legislative power, expand settlement and consider West Bank annexation policy, combat the cost of living, and further centralize ultra-Orthodox control over state Jewish services. Lots of political inside baseball at the link, for those interested. Ra’am chief slams other Arab parties for helping bring down previous government Mansour Abbas questions purpose of Hadash-Ta’al alliance and its ‘dogmatic’ approach to politics, arguing it does not help Arabs; says community fears incoming right-wing coalition Netanyahu presents new government’s agenda; Lapid: ‘Try not to destroy the country’ Several MKs from incoming opposition ejected from plenum for heckling as incoming PM outlines plans ahead of swear-in; thousands protest outside Knesset against hardline coalition. Inside the plenum, Netanyahu was interrupted by heckles from the opposition as he outlined the three main missions of his government: stopping the Iran nuclear program, developing state infrastructure with emphasis on connecting peripheral communities to the country’s center, and bolstering law and order. In his speech, Netanyahu accused opposition lawmakers of not accepting the results of the November 1 election, despite the fact that the legitimacy of the ballot has never been questioned. “I hear the constant cries of the opposition about the end of the country and democracy,” Netanyahu said. “Losing elections isn’t the end of democracy — it’s the essence of democracy,” he said. Biden says he’ll seek to work with Netanyahu to advance regional, Palestinian peace While joining Putin and Modi in congratulating Likud leader on his return to office, US president stresses opposition to policies that endanger a two-state solution No ceremony; no photo: Netanyahu, Lapid hold PM-handover meeting New PM calls session ‘good, comprehensive’; predecessor leaves him a note saying he’ll be back in 2024. The note echoed a similar handwritten letter with the words “be right back!” that was left for Naftali Bennett on the desk of the Prime Minister’s Office when he arrived to take over as premier last summer. Who’s who in the new Netanyahu-led government A look at the 31 ministers, just 5 of them women, in Israel’s 37th government from Likud and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox partners, and some of their newly created ministries |
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