CNN
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Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday completed an impressive comeback as Israel’s prime minister, after being sworn in as leader of what could be the country’s biggest. right-wing government in history.
Mr. Netanyahu and his government were sworn in on Thursday for his sixth term as prime minister, 18 months after he was ousted.
He is back with the support of several far-right figures who have been marginalized in Israeli politics, after rallying a coalition just before last weekend’s deadline.
Members of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party will take up some of the most important cabinet posts, including foreign minister, defense minister and justice minister.
However, several far-right politicians in Israeli politics have been appointed to ministerial posts, despite the controversy over their positions in the run-up to the November elections. The election was won by a bloc of extreme and far-right nationalists led by Mr. Netanyahu. extremist parties.
Itamar Ben Gvir, a former extremist Convicted for aiding terrorism and inciting anti-Arab racism, will take on a newly expanded public security role, renamed minister of national security, oversee police in Israel plus some police operations close to the occupied West Bank.
Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the religious Zionist party, has been appointed finance minister and given the power to appoint the head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). ), an Israeli military unit tasked with border handling. crossings and permits for the Palestinians.
During his campaign, Smotrich proposed a series of drastic legal reforms, seen by many critics as an obvious way to curtail judicial independence. This includes removing the possibility of charging a public official with fraud and breach of trust – an allegation Mr. Netanyahu faces in his ongoing corruption trial.
Netanyahu pleaded not guilty and called the trial a “witch hunt” and a “coup plot” and called for changes to Israel’s justice system.
Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Sephardi Shas party, will serve as interior minister and health minister.
As new ministers prepared to take the oath of office in the Knesset, the country’s parliament, about 2,000 protesters gathered outside to protest against Netanyahu’s return to office, a Jerusalem Police spokesman said. .
The shift to the right in the Israeli government has raised eyebrows both at home and abroad. On Wednesday, more than 100 retired Israeli ambassadors and State Department officials expressed concern about Israel’s incoming government in a signed letter to Mr. Netanyahu.
Former diplomats, including former ambassadors to France, India and Turkey, expressed “deep concern at the serious damage to Israel’s foreign relations, international standing The country’s economic and core interests abroad derive from the incoming Government’s policy. ”
The letter pointed to “statements by potential senior officials in the Government and Knesset”, reports of policy changes in the West Bank and “a number of possible extreme and discriminatory laws”. out” is a point of concern.
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides congratulated Mr. Netanyahu on Thursday, writing on Twitter: “This is the solid U.S.-Israeli relationship and unbreakable ties.” Nides is married to Virginia Mosely, Executive Vice President of Editorial Affairs at CNN USA.
Biden administration officials have largely avoided mentioning far-right elements in the new Israeli government. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that the United States “will engage and evaluate our partners in Israel on the basis of the policies they pursue, not individuals who happen to form a government. ”
Mr. Netanyahu’s fragile November victory came in Israel’s fifth election in less than four years, amid a prolonged period of political turmoil in which he remained a dominant figure.
In a speech to the Knesset on Thursday, Mr. Netanyahu said that of the three main tasks assigned to his government, the first would be to “prevent Iran’s efforts to obtain nuclear weapons”. The second priority will be to develop the country’s infrastructure, including the launch of high-speed trains, and the third priority will be to conclude more peace agreements with Arab states “to end the conflict.” between Israel and Arabia”.
Netanyahu has been Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, having previously held the post from 2009 to 2021 and before that for a term in the late 1990s.
Israel also had its first openly gay parliamentary speaker on Thursday. Amir Ohana, a former justice and public security minister, is a member of the Knesset representing Netanyahu’s Likud party.
Several ultra-Orthodox lawmakers who refused to attend his inauguration in the Knesset seven years ago were among those who voted for him on Thursday.
Ahead of the parliamentary vote on the new government, outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid wrote on Twitter: “We deliver to you a state in excellent condition. Try not to mess it up, we’ll be right back. The handover file is ready.”
With additional reporting by Kareem El Damanhoury
