Benjamin Netanyahu
After swearing-in of Israel’s 35th government, Friedman bids country “mazal tov” • Pompeo: “We will work together to advance the security and prosperity of our peoples.”
“The people wanted unity, and that is what it got,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The incoming government will be the largest in Israel’s history, with 34-36 ministers • Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz splits from Yamina and will join the government as minister for Jerusalem affairs and national projects.
Discussing cooperation on the coronavirus front, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “we’ll certainly talk about the challenges the globe faces with COVID, Israeli technology, Israeli medical expertise—all the things that you and I and our teams can work on together.”
Reactions pour in from across political spectrum after landmark High Court ruling in favor of coalition deal • Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked: “Even the obvious must be stated: This isn’t law, it’s politics.”
The left sees it as a bulwark against the right and a defender of democracy. The right sees it as another example of tyranny of the courts and its effort to wrest away democracy from the people.
Likud officials warn that if Israel’s top court rules that Benjamin Netanyahu can’t continue to serve as prime minister, the right loses its say in the Judges Selection Committee or the rotation deal for the premiership is rejected, the unity deal is done.
“We hope the court doesn’t interfere. It doesn’t need to interfere. There is the will of the people, the clear expression of the will of the people,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The judges made it clear that they do not rule regarding political agreements. They rule on laws, and since the laws in the coalition agreement have not yet been voted into law, they will not issue rulings about them.
If the expanded panel of 11 judges rules that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can’t form a government, then the country will be sent back to elections for the fourth time in a year.
Israel’s High Court of Justice is scheduled to rule on the issue, as well as on the changes to Israel’s Basic Laws involved in the unity deal reached between Netanyahu and Blue and White’s Benny Gantz.
Former Blue and White co-chairman Yair Lapid blasts erstwhile ally Benny Gantz over unity deal, apologizes to voters • Likud sources: “Netanyahu wants Yamina as full-fledged partners on the right.”
