Israel’s 25th Knesset officially sworn in
The new Knesset is seen as potentially the most right-wing since the country's creation
One by one, the 120 members of Israel’s 25th Knesset were sworn in on Tuesday, ushering in a right-wing, religious majority that has vowed to pursue a hardline reformist agenda, as President Isaac Herzog urged the incoming lawmakers to end their “addiction to conflict” and social media-driven uproars.
The new Knesset is expected to provide Israel with long-sought domestic political stability after a cycle of five inconclusive elections in less than four years. But it may also represent a dramatic change in Israeli governance. Seen as potentially the most right-wing since the country’s creation, the parliament is expected to usher in a right-religious coalition with prominent far-right ministers and a shared declared goal of constraining the Supreme Court that critics say would neuter the judiciary.
The coalition is expected to be comprised of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, two ultra-Orthodox parties and the far-right Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit alliance. Netanyahu was formally given the president’s mandate to form Israel’s 37th government on Sunday, less than two weeks after his right-religious allies won a majority 64 of the 120 seats.
Herzog used his address to urge MKs to cool the venomous political discourse between parties after 19 turbulent months that saw an unlikely coalition of right, left, centre and Arab parties take power only to be undone by internal squabbling and unrelenting criticism from the opposition.
“The citizens of Israel stand proud of their country, which this year will celebrate 75 years of independence, and they believe in the justness of its cause; but at the same time, they are honestly exhausted from the infighting and its fallout,” the president said.
“The responsibility lies first and foremost with you, the public’s elected representatives. A responsibility to try to wean yourselves off this addiction to never-ending conflict … A responsibility to take a deep breath, verify the facts and consider everything carefully before any speech or [social media post],” he said.
Herzog added that politicians were often too focused on getting likes and shares and causing online buzz, without thinking through the consequences.
Israelis now want their parliament to “simply work for them”, he said.
“They expect you, all of you, to work for them in the committees, in the plenum, and in your assorted public and parliamentary roles. They expect us, all of us, to wake up every morning and look out for them,” said Herzog.
He also alluded to calls among members of Netanyahu’s prospective coalition to advance legislation that would allow parliament to overrule High Court rulings with a mere 61 votes in the 120-seat Knesset.
“On this festive day, we should remember that the power of the legislature is part of a necessary and broader system of checks and balances. Let me emphasise: not only is change possible, there are areas where change is proper and desirable,” he said.
“But we must do so through listening, through open dialogue, through respectful discourse – and fairly,” he added.
Despite Netanyahu’s vigorous efforts to quickly seal a coalition deal, Israel’s 37th government was not sworn in alongside its lawmakers, with contested ministerial portfolios and disputed policy goals yet to be reconciled.
While the talks between Netanyahu and his far-right partner Bezalel Smotrich have come to a head over the assignment of senior ministry posts, the parties are expected to come to terms well before the December 11 deadline for forming a government.
In accepting the task of forming a coalition on Sunday, Netanyahu promised to govern for all Israelis – “those who voted for me and those who did not”.
Last Wednesday, Herzog was heard on a hot mic saying the “entire world” is concerned about far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir, who is set to become a government minister in Netanyahu’s coalition.
The remarks came as he met with party representatives to hear their formal recommendations for who should lead the next government. After meeting with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, also a part of Netanyahu’s bloc, the video broadcast ended but the audio continued.
“There’s one issue I didn’t talk about because I don’t want to shame anyone,” Herzog said.
In a clear reference to Ben Gvir, Herzog went on to say, “You have a partner that the entire world is anxious about.”
A member of the Shas delegation is heard saying, “but he’s moderated,” before the recording was cut off.
Ben Gvir, the head of the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, has demanded he receive the public security ministry. He has a long history of inciting violence.
Ben Gvir said in response to the recording that he and Herzog have “held many fruitful conversations in recent weeks.”
He said Herzog had told him that “he was certain that if I speak with the world, they will realise and acknowledge that I don’t make generalisations against all Arabs.”
TIMES OF ISRAEL
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