The most right-wing coalition in Israeli history, led by seasoned leader Benjamin Netanyahu, returned to power on Wednesday after announcing the formation of a new government.
Following his victory on November 1st, Netanyahu was given the go-ahead to form a cabinet with the support of extreme right-wing groups and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.
He was then in a position to replace the ideologically divided coalition that had driven Israel’s extraordinary period of political deadlock, which resulted in five elections in less than four years, and put an end to it.
Including his record 12-year tenure from 2009 to 2021, Netanyahu has already held the position of prime minister for the longest period of time in Israeli history. He is currently defending corruption allegations in court.
The deadline for him to wrap the coalition negotiations was midnight.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, he called President Isaac Herzog moments before the deadline and informed him that he had “been able to construct a cabinet.”
The declaration made it clear that right-wing Likud, led by Netanyahu, would rule with major ultra-Orthodox parties and extremists who supported the Religious Zionism alliance.
Some political analysts had forecast that Netanyahu, 73, would be able to announce a new government quickly after the November polls, given the ideological common ground between Likud and its partners.
However, the negotiations dragged on as Netanyahu was obliged to balance requests for important cabinet positions, some of which he was forced to accept.
His promise of a larger national security ministry to the leader of the Jewish Power party, Itamar Ben Gvir, who has a long history of deploying fiery rhetoric against Arabs, was among his most contentious actions.
