US Election and Politics News: Israel has a Right-Wing Government, Promises to Recognize the Right of Jews to Live in Judea and Samaria

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Israel has a Right-Wing Government, Promises to Recognize the Right of Jews to Live in Judea and Samaria

Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone with President Yitzhak Herzog

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu phoned President Yitzhak Herzog on Wednesday evening and proclaimed, “I have succeeded in forming a government”, Arutz Sheva reports.

The phone call took place 18 minutes before an extension granted to Netanyahu from President Yitzhak Herzog was set to expire at midnight. Netanyahu told Herzog, “Dear President, thanks to the enormous public support we received in the last elections, I am informing you that I have been able to establish a government that will act in the interest of all the citizens of Israel”, Arutz Sheva said:

“The chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, MK Bezalel Smotrich, tweeted shortly after 11 p.m., “We have succeeded”, but there had been reports of difficulties in contacts with the various parties that are members of the coalition before Netanyahu’s call with Herzog.

Netanyahu and his coalition partners have not yet formally signed the coalition agreements, but reached agreements in principle before the announcement. Netanyahu and representatives of the United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit parties will continue their discussions.”

בזכות התמיכה הציבורית העצומה לה זכינו בבחירות האחרונות, עלה בידי להקים ממשלה שתפעל לטובת כל אזרחי ישראל pic.twitter.com/ijtDppkaSm

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 21, 2022

“Thanks to the enormous public support we received in the last elections, I was able to establish a government that will work for the benefit of all Israeli citizens”, Benjamin Netanyahu posted. It will be the most patriotic government Israel has ever seen.

Knesset speaker Likud MK Yariv Levin is expected to make the official announcement to the Knesset when it next convenes on Monday, reports the Jerusalem Post.

The agreement with the Religious Zionist Party involves recognizing Jewish settlements in biblical Judea and Samaria and transfering authority over “Area C”, which has been contolled by the Israeli Defense Force since 1968, to Israeli ministries. According to the Oslo Peace Accords, Judea and Samaria are divided into three Areas – “Area C” where Jews live, “Area B” under Israeli security control and Arab civilian control, and “Area A” unter full Arab control. Jews are not allowed in “Area A” except under military escort, because they will be killed. This is the only “Apartheid” that exists in Israel.