Ariane Menage (correspondent in Jerusalem)
After Tuesday’s legislative elections, Israeli broadcasters credited Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud and his allies from the ultra-Orthodox parties and the far-right “Religious Zionism” list with 62 seats, more than the majority threshold in the Parliament of 120 deputies. What will be the face of the next Israeli government?
Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, indicted for corruption in a series of cases, moves closer on Thursday to his long-desired goal of securing a majority with his religious and far-right allies to march on the highest again steps of power. What is the next government likely to look like?
“I would work for everyone, even for those who hate me”
The turn will be very right and even to the extreme right. Victorious, Benjamin Netanyahu will have to deal with allies on the program, extremists or even racists: annexation of the entire West Bank, relaxation of shooting rules for soldiers, immunity for police and soldiers during their service. These are the proposals of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the most radical figure in this potential coalition who nevertheless tries to reassure: “I would work for everyone, even for those who hate me”, declared Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Another member of the religious Zionist party demands for his part a reform of the judicial system. The measure would reduce the power of the Israeli Supreme Court to the benefit of the ruling coalition. A reform that could also lead to the abandonment of the ongoing trial against Benyamin Netanyahu.