Nearly two months after the country’s elections, Israel’s 37th government was to be sworn in on Thursday, returning Benjamin Netanyahu to power as the head of the country’s most hardline government ever.
The day’s parliamentary proceedings will begin with a speech by Netanyahu to the Knesset, followed by a speech by incoming opposition leader Yair Lapid.
Netanyahu would outline his government’s agenda, which was published highlighted the priorities of his far-right and ultra-conservative coalition partners on Wednesday.
Each faction of the new opposition would then be given a 15-minute slot that could be used by an individual to make a speech or divided among party members.
A vote will be held on the appointment of Likud MK Amir Ohana as Knesset speaker. After that formality is completed, there will be a vote of confidence on the incoming government, after which it will be sworn in.
Netanyahu will Allegedly Lapid, and will only attend a transition briefing with the outgoing premier.
Netanyahu refused to attend the ceremony when Naftali Bennett took over as Israel’s premier in June 2021 and held only a brief 30-minute meeting with his successor. The sit-in ended without the traditional public greetings, handshakes, and photo ops.
Likud’s Emir Ohana in Jerusalem, November 1, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Thursday’s proceedings came at the conclusion of weeks of talks between Netanyahu’s Likud and his far-right and Haredi coalition partners, which required voting on several controversial laws before agreements could be signed.
Netanyahu has largely dismissed concerns over his incoming government, despite the signing vow not to harm LGBTQ and other minority rights. alliance agreement that state otherwise and the inclusion of a Anti-LGBTQ Party In government that would have control over certain educational programs in schools.
Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu with MK Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the Otzma Yehudit party in the Knesset on December 28, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
alliance agreement Including a commitment to pass a controversial High Court override law designed to reduce judicial scrutiny over executive and legislative power, and a declarative, if somewhat vague, commitment to annex the West Bank to Israel .
In addition, the far-right Otzma Yehudit party has secured a settlement separating the Border Police from the Israel Police and placing the force under the direct control of the new Minister of National Security, MK Itamar Ben Gvir.
Deals will also see far reaching policy changes including religion and state enabling gender-segregated public eventsrestricting eligibility for Jewish immigration to Israel under the Law of Return, and increased wealth For social welfare and religious education.
