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The leader of the Likud party, Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, on Friday reached the first coalition agreement in the process of forming the next government, with the “Jewish Power” party led by Itamar Ben Gvir, known for its anti- political Arab, which thanks to him guarantees the police portfolio and a place in the security cabinet. . On Friday, Netanyahu began negotiations with his religious right and far-right allies to form a government that will likely be the most right-wing in Israel’s history.
Israel’s Likud party signed on Friday The first agreement in the next government coalition With the far-right “Jewish Power” party led by the ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvir in a first step towards the formation of a complete and definitive government.
However, divisions have emerged between the Likud party, led by prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, and the powerful religious Zionist party, whose hardline leaders oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and are calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. directly contradict the directives of successive US administrations.
While the deal does not represent the formation of a new definitive government in Israel, it does give prominent anti-Arab politician Itamar Ben Gvir the important police ministry and a seat in the security cabinet.
The victory of the right with a clear majority in the elections held on 1 November, which ended almost four years of political deadlock, has raised the ceiling of expectations within the conservative Likud party led by Netanyahu to quickly conclude alliances with religious-nationalist parties that share the party’s ideas and orientations.
Religious Zionist lawmakers are demanding that party leader Bezalel Smotrich take over as defense minister so the party can influence policy relating to the West Bank, more than half of which is under full Israeli military control and which Palestinians are demanding to be part of their future state. At the same time asking the Likud party to keep the high position.
Finance’s position is also expected to raise issues for Netanyahu, who previously said ahead of the election that his party would keep the three biggest portfolios, namely defence, finance and foreign affairs.
Most countries consider the settlements illegal, which Israel rejects, while Palestinians say expanding them prevents them from establishing a viable state.
Regardless of the wallets occupied by the religious Zionist party, the next government will ostensibly be the most right-wing in Israel’s history, putting pressure on Netanyahu to maintain the diplomatic balance between his coalition and its Western allies.
France 24/Reuters
