Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) has passed a controversial bill consolidating government control over the police.
This precedes the swearing-in of Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government on Thursday.
The law, approved by 61 votes to 55, was a condition of far-right Jewish party Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) to join the coalition government.
Shortly after the law was passed, party leader and new security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, speaking in the Knesset, said it was an important step.
“Thank you. Thank you very much sir, ministers, lawmakers. We made history for the State of Israel, for the strong police, for the security, for the streets, for the streets. Thank you very much,” he added. .
Another bill approved by the Knesset provides for the appointment of the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Aryeh Deri, as minister, despite his conviction for tax violations.
Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the new government would be remembered as the most corrupt of all time, as he himself said.
