Arrived at the head of the legislative elections in Israel with his political allies, Benjamin Netanyahu was officially appointed on Sunday to form a government, a victory for the former Prime Minister who thus sets foot in the arena.
Earlier this week, a majority of lawmakers, 64 out of 120 in the parliament elected on November 1, recommended President Isaac Herzog give Netanyahu the task of putting together a new ministerial team.
“I give you the mandate to form a government”President Herzog said Sunday alongside Mr. Netanyahu, during a press conference in Jerusalem.
“I will be the Prime Minister of all, of those who voted for us and the others. It is my responsibility”said Mr. Netanyahu, 73, promising “a stable and efficient government, a responsible and committed government”.
The Prime Minister designate will have 28 days to form his government, with an additional 14 days if necessary.
It was the outgoing centrist Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, who ousted Mr. Netanyahu last year by rallying a motley coalition determined to put an end to the reign of the longest Prime Minister in the history of Israel, in office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021.
Relegated to the rank of leader of the opposition, the one everyone nicknamed “Bibi” then promised to “overthrow the government at the first opportunity”.
Immediately after the announcement of the results of the legislative elections of November 1, the fifth in three and a half years, he began discussions with his allies on the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
While his Likud party won 32 Knesset seats, his Orthodox allies 18 and the “Religious Zionism” alliance 14.
Sunday, at “those who prophesy disasters and scare the public”Mr. Netanyahu assured that their “speech” were “faux”.
The leader of the Sephardic Shass party, Arieh Dery, invigorated by his 11 seats, is considering Finance or the Interior, according to the press.
The “Religious Zionism” alliance has claimed the Ministry of Defense for its leader Betzalel Smotrich while Itamar Ben Gvir, its number 2, targets the portfolio of Homeland Security.