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Israel sworn in a new parliament on Tuesday as hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu pushed ahead with talks with allies to form what could become the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history.
Of the 120 lawmakers elected on Nov. 1, 64 backed Netanyahu to lead the next government, clearing the way for his promised comeback after just 14 months of opposition.
The majorities gained by Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies – two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and the rising far-right religious Zionist coalition – are expected to usher in a stable government that ends Unprecedented political gridlock, with five elections held in less than five years over four years.
While a new parliament is due to be sworn in later on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s coalition talks are likely to drag on for days or even weeks despite a broad ideological consensus within the bloc backing him as prime minister.
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Friction has arisen as different leaders vie for cabinet posts, which is common after Israeli elections.
But Netanyahu faces particularly complex negotiations this time with far-right co-leaders Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who demanded Served in key ministerial positions.
Ben-Gvir, the leader of the Jewish Power Party, was accused of violence or hate speech more than 50 times in his youth. Most recently, he accused Israel’s security services of not using enough force to respond to unrest in Palestine.
He also called on Israel to annex the entire occupied West Bank, telling AFP ahead of the election that he would not apologize for previous calls to deport all Arabs, even if his views had changed.
Ben-Gvir has said he wants to become public security minister, a role that would allow him to run the police.
Smotridge was transport minister in the previous Netanyahu government, but after a strong electoral performance by religious Zionists, he is now demanding finance or defense.
According to Israeli media reports, US President Joe Biden’s administration has urged Netanyahu to appoint a defense and security minister with whom Washington can work – which was widely interpreted as a warning against appointing Ben Gevier or Smotridge.
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