PALESTINE Netanyahu announces a coalition agreement: the far-right government is born

An understanding was reached when there were a few minutes left before the end of the term. Smotrich will take over as Finance Minister, and the settlements will come under his supervision. Ben Gvir will be in charge of National Security and will control the police (and al-Aqsa). Aryeh Deri, leader of Shas, will serve in Interior and Health, despite the fact that his appointment was challenged by the Attorney General’s Office.

Jerusalem () – With a message on social networks and a few minutes before the deadline set at the institutional level expired, acting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night formalized the birth of the new israeli executive: “We did it” the prime minister tweeted. It was a few minutes before midnight (local time), when the additional time granted by President Isaac Herzog ended. The longtime leader, now in his sixth term, will lead the political front “more right-wing” in the country’s history. The fact arouses considerable concern not only among Palestinians, but also in Western foreign ministries and among liberal intellectuals.

President Herzog’s office confirmed shortly thereafter that it had received the acting Prime Minister’s note, which positively concluded the process of forming the Government. Netanyahu is thus confirmed as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, at the helm of the executive branch between 1996 and 1999, and again between 2009 and 2021. His party, the Likud (right), the far-right religious Zionist factions and the The ultra-Orthodox will have a majority in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament): 64 seats out of a total of 120. “Thanks to the enormous public support we received in the last elections, I have been able to establish a government that will work for the benefit of all Israeli citizens.” he added.

The coalition partners reject the idea of ​​ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. This peace formula enjoys international support and contemplates an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank (plus Gaza) together with Israel, with a common capital: Jerusalem. The leader of the religious Zionist party, which in alliance with two other far-right movements ranked third in number of seats, wants Israel to annex the West Bank and has been given broad powers over its activities in the Territories.

Bezalel Smotrich, leader of religious Zionism, and Itmar Ben Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party, will assume important posts. Smotrich, an outspoken homophobe and champion of the settlers, will be Minister of Finance and will oversee the settlements (colonies and outposts) in the West Bank. Therefore, he will be in charge of settlement building permits, Palestinian house demolitions and land issues. He will also oversee two military units in charge of civil affairs and security.

Ben Gvir, previously convicted of incitement to racism and support for a terrorist organization, will be Minister of National Security and will oversee the police and forces that control security and access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In addition, Avi Maoz, head of the anti-LGBT Noam party, will be deputy minister in charge of “Jewish identity”, with control of part of the national education system. He is one of the supporters of therapy to “reconvert” homosexuals, opposes women’s military service and calls for rabbis to act as the “fourth power of the government.”

The Interior and Health portfolios would be in charge of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party leader, Aryeh Deri -so he was promised- despite the fact that his appointment was vetoed by the Israeli attorney general’s office, which declared him unfit for the position due to previous convictions. for tax crimes. Among other reforms, the incoming government is considering the possibility of annulling Supreme Court decisions through a parliamentary vote. And carry out justice reforms that could end the process against Netanyahu on corruption charges, accusations that he has always denied.

The swearing in of the new government would take place on January 2.