Minutes from a crucial deadline, Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu announced late Wednesday evening that he would be able to form the next government with his partners from the ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties.
Winner with his allies of the legislative elections of November 1, Benjamin Netanyahu had until 11:59 p.m. (21:59 GMT) on Wednesday to announce to President Isaac Herzog that he had "succeeded" in forming the next government, thus succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid .
“I have it,” Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew a few minutes before this deadline, to announce the formation of the next government.
The Israeli presidency, for its part, confirmed that the Prime Minister had “called” Isaac Herzog “to inform him” of this news on time.
“Dear President, thanks to the enormous public support we received during the last elections, I inform you that I was able to form a government that will act in the interests of all the citizens of Israel,” he said. he added in a statement.
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In the wake of the elections and under Israeli rules, the Likud leader had until December 11 to announce his government, but he had asked for a 14-day extension, the maximum allowed by law.
However, President Herzog had only granted him ten additional days and the Israeli press was expecting an announcement during the day, even if the precise composition of the next government was not yet completely finalized.
The partners are known, however, in what analysts say will be the most right-wing government in Israel's history: the two ultra-Orthodox parties Shass and United Torah Judaism (UJT) as well as the three formations of extreme right “Religious Zionism” of Bezalel Smotrich, Jewish Force of Itamar Ben Gvir and Noam of Avi Maoz.
A “democracy that has the name, but not the essence”
In recent weeks, Benjamin Netanyahu's party, the Likud, has signed agreements with far-right parties providing for the distribution of certain posts such as that of Minister of National Security to Itamar Ben Gvir, responsibility for the settlements in West Bank occupied in Bezalel Smotrich, or a portfolio in Arié Dery, leader of Shass.
However, Israeli lawmakers have yet to vote on second and third readings of bills to allow Arie Dery to serve as minister after being found guilty of tax evasion and Itamar Ben Gvir to expand his future powers as minister. on the Israeli police.
Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has warned that future government bills threaten to turn Israel into a "democracy in name, but not in essence."
“The politicization of law enforcement will deal a serious blow to the most fundamental principles of the rule of law, that is to say equality, the absence of arbitrariness and impartiality”, a- she added.
