JERUSALEM (AP) — After nearly four years of political stalemate and five elections, Israel was sworn in Tuesday in its most right-wing parliament.
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is running to cobble together a ruling and far-right coalition in the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset. elections.
The growing popularity of a right-wing alliance that was once on the fringes of Israeli society has helped fuel Netanyahu’s political comeback even as he faces trial on corruption charges.
The 25th Knesset was sworn in with trumpets and choral music just hours after a Palestinian assailant carried out a fatal attack on an Israeli-controlled commercial area in the occupied West Bank, killing 3 Israelis and wounding 3 others before being shot dead.
Potential partners in Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have vowed to act more aggressively against Palestinian attackers and protect Israelis. Itamar Ben Gvir, an ultranationalist lawmaker who appears poised to secure a task in the next government, called Tuesday’s attack a “wake-up call. “which proves that “only an iron fist will eliminate terrorism. “
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for national unity in his speech after the five elections that divided the country, Israelis are “exhausted by infighting and its consequences. “
“Now the duty falls first and foremost on you, the elected representatives of the public,” he said. “The responsibility to check to get rid of this dependence on endless conflicts. “
Herzog also called on Israel’s minority rights lawmakers who are concerned that the upcoming governing coalition, which is expected to be predominantly male, devout and right-wing, will extend his predecessor’s achievements on issues such as the environment, LGBTQ rights and investment. for the Arab population.
“There are also communities, and especially minorities, who worry that their wishes are not on the agenda,” he said. “You, the elected representatives of the public, will have to pay attention to them and keep them at your attractions as well. . “
In his speech after the swearing-in, Israel’s interim prime minister, Yair Lapid, was blunt.
“We want this space to be a position that Israelis admire,” he said, “not a position that they and their representatives are ashamed of. “
The new parliament replaces one of the most colorful and varied in Israel’s history, which for the first time in history had a record 36 women and a small Arab-Islamist party in the ruling coalition. There are only 29 women in this Knesset. Its 23 new lawmakers are, at most, from Netanyahu’s Likud party and the alliance of far-right parties known as devout Zionism.
Religious Zionism has proposed a plan to restrict the powers of Israel’s judicial system, which it accuses of unfairly favoring the political left. In an obvious reference to the recommended reform, Herzog reminded parliament of the importance of Israel’s checks and balances.
“It is permissible, and even mandatory, to reopen the debate on the distribution of powers,” he said. “But we have to do it by listening, through open dialogue, through respectful and fair discourse. “
The number of Arab lawmakers has fallen to its lowest point in two decades, the Israel Democracy Institute reported, with 10 of the 120 members of the Arab parliament. participation of Israel’s Arab minority.
Meretz, a leftist who supports the creation of a Palestinian state, also left parliament altogether. In his speech, Herzog said that he will “be missed”entry parliament with only 4 seats.
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Associated Press editor Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem contributed to the report.