He waited until the last moment. A few minutes before the deadline set by the Israeli president, Benyamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday December 21 that he would be able to form the next government with his partners from the ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties.
Winner with his allies of the legislative elections of 1er November, Mr. Netanyahu had until 11:59 p.m. (10:59 p.m. in France) on Wednesday to announce to President Isaac Herzog that he had ” successful “ to form the next government, succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
” I got it “, tweeted in Hebrew Mr. Netanyahu minutes before midnight, to announce the formation of the next government. The Israeli presidency, for its part, confirmed to Agence France-Presse that Mr. Netanyahu had ” called “ Mr Herzog “to inform him” of this news in due time.
“Dear President, thanks to the huge public support we received during the last elections, I inform you that I was able to form a government that will act in the interest of all citizens of Israel”Netanyahu added. in a press release.
In the wake of the elections and under Israeli rules, Netanyahu had until December 11 to announce his government, but he had asked for a 14-day extension, the maximum allowed by law.
However, President Herzog had only granted him ten additional days and the Israeli press was expecting an announcement during the day, even if the precise composition of the next government was not yet completely finalized.
The most right-wing government in Israel’s history
The partners are known, however, in what analysts say will be the most right-wing government in Israel’s history: the two ultra-Orthodox parties Shass and United Torah Judaism (UJT) as well as the three far-right formations Religious Zionism of Bezalel Smotrich, Jewish Force of Itamar Ben Gvir and Noam of Avi Maoz.
In recent weeks, Mr. Netanyahu’s party, the Likud, has signed agreements with far-right parties providing for the distribution of certain posts such as that of national security minister to Itamar Ben Gvir, responsibility for the settlements in the occupied West Bank to Bezalel Smotrich, or a portfolio to Arié Dery, leader of Shass.
However, Israeli MPs have yet to vote on second and third readings of bills to allow Mr Dery to take office as a minister after being found guilty of tax evasion and Mr Ben Gvir to expand his future powers minister on the Israeli police.
Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara warned last week that future government bills threatened to make Israel a “democracy which has the name, but not the essence”.
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“The politicization of the police will deal a serious blow to the most fundamental principles of the rule of law, that is to say equality, the absence of arbitrariness and impartiality”she added, adding that “legislative blitz” current could lead to changes “deep” and required “no more talking”.
What positions for the Likud?
The most durable of the heads of government in the history of Israel with fifteen years in office (1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021) and therefore accustomed to forming coalitions, Benyamin Netanyahu must also distribute ministerial portfolios within his own training.
Before the inauguration of the next government, announced on ” as soon as possible “ by Mr. Netanyahu, either next week or early January according to analysts, the prime minister-designate and his allies could try to push these bills through the Knesset, the parliament.
Mr. Netanyahu also announced the distribution of ministerial posts within his own camp, which is not an easy task because “there are more requests from Likud deputies for important portfolios than positions available following agreements with other coalition partners”noted the center-right daily Maariv on Wednesday.