- The right-wing religious government of Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed through a highly controversial change in the law.
- This, although the government has yet to be sworn in.
- After hours of debate, 63 of the 120 MPs voted in favor and 55 against on Tuesday morning.
The change in law should allow the leader of the strictly religious Shas party, Arie Deri, to become interior minister despite a conviction for tax offenses. In addition, Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party can also receive a ministerial post in the Ministry of Defense in addition to the position of finance minister.
Legend:
Benjamin Netanyahu and Arie Deri in November 2022.
Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
Smotrich is considered a fervent advocate of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. In the future, he should also have influence on the administration of the West Bank and the life of the Palestinians. Smotrich aims to legalize more Israeli settlements.
The new government is scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday. Before that, the powers of the Secretary of State for National Security are to be expanded through another amendment to the law. The right-wing extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir is to receive the post. In addition to the police, he should also be responsible for the border police in the West Bank after the change in law.
Violence Warning
After his election victory on November 1, the 73-year-old Netanyahu managed to form a right-wing religious coalition. His government is planning far-reaching changes in the law and a targeted weakening of the judicial system. According to experts, the changes could also lead to an end to the ongoing corruption process against Netanyahu.
Israel’s outgoing Prime Minister Jair Lapid said after the previous changes in the law that the new government had proved “the most corrupt of all times” even before it was sworn in. And outgoing Secretary of Defense Benny Gantz warned of a further escalation of violence and bloodshed in the region given the changes.