Netanyahu returns to power in Israel
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Raven Ruma
- . November 4, 2022
- . Update: November 11, 2022 1:04 am
Final election results in Israel have put a stamp on clear victory for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, providing a triumphant comeback for the politician as the head of most right wing government of the country. The current caretaker leader, Yair Lapid has conceded the defeat after the results confirmed that Netanyahu’s Likud Party and its far right, ultranationalist and religious partners had won in clear parliamentary majority, with 64 seats out of 120 in the Knesset.
The strong faring in the election thus promises to end the political deadlock on the country that had paralyzed it for the past three and a half years. But the planned agenda of the new government expected to take office — including an overhaul of the country’s legal system and a tough line against the Palestinians — promises to further polarize a deeply divided nation and risks antagonizing Israel’s closest allies abroad, The Associated Press notes.
“The state of Israel comes before any political consideration. I wish Netanyahu success, for the sake of the people of Israel and the state of Israel,” outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement, adding that the prime minister has instructed his office “to prepare for an organised transition of power”.
Read | Netanyahu eyes comeback as Israel votes in the fifth election in four years
Netanyahu’s main governing partner in the right wing alliance is expected to be Religious Zionism, which is a far right party. Religious Zionism’s main candidate, Itamar Ben-Gvir has built his career on streamlined confrontations with Palestinians and also advocates anti Arab views, a point of view that once was largely seen as an extremist fringe. Ben-Gvir says he “wants to end Palestinian autonomy in parts of the occupied West Bank and maintain Israel’s occupation over the Palestinians, now in its 56th year, indefinitely”.
This puts Israel’s left wing and pro-Arab parties in a vulnerable position, specially putting in context the ideology of new government that will take up the country’s power.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US hopes Israel “will continue to share the values of an open, democratic society, including tolerance and respect for all in civil society, particularly for minority groups.” Italy’s new far-right premier, Giorgia Meloni, congratulated Netanyahu on Twitter. “Ready to strengthen our friendship and our bilateral relations, to better face our common challenges,″ she wrote.
