Jerusalem: Veteran hawk Benjamin Netanyahu launched negotiations with his ultra-Orthodox and far-right allies on forming what could be the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Netanyahu’s Likud party won 32 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, according to latest election results.
That combined with 18 for two ultra Orthodox Jewish parties and 14 for the rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism gave the rightwing bloc supporting Netanyahu 64 seats.
The centrist bloc of outgoing caretaker PM Yair Lapid won 51 seats, marking a definitive win for Netanyahu and an end to Israel’s unprecedented era of political deadlock, which forced five elections in less than four years.
That will likely mean prominent roles for the co-leaders of far-right Religious Zionism, which has doubled its representation. “Where are they headed?” said the headline of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper with pictures of Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir, an extreme-right figure who looks set to be a major player in the new administration. “Most of the important portfolios will be in the hands of fanatics. . . ,” columnist Sima Kadmon wrote in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
Israel army said that its fighter jets targeted a rocket manufacturing site in the Gaza Strip. Four Palestinians, including an assailant, were killed in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. US secretary of state Antony Blinken voiced “deep concern” and called for de-escalation.
Netanyahu shares little in common with his new partners other than opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, and a mutual desire to enable parliament to override the high court, which will help get his corruption charges thrown out.
Elevating the Religious Zionists to the security cabinet will not be straightforward: the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, is unlikely to be comfortable with sharing intelligence with several members of the party that they maintain files on.
Israel’s western partners, including the US, have also reportedly relayed messages to the Likud that they would only have limited contact with ministries led by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
