After a narrow majority in the Knesset, it is now clear that the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of corruption, will lead Israel’s new far-right government. This time, however, with new coalition partners.
None of the former coalition parties or parties to the left of the right-liberal Likud party wanted to cooperate with him, says Israel expert Isabell Schierenbeck.
– Instead, he leans towards this coalition where two out of three parties are pronounced right-wing and one even comes from the Kach party, which was banned in the nineties for its clearly violent and deeply racist ideology.
This has led to strong reactions – not least among the half of the population who did not win the election.
– I would say that the reactions there have been almost panicky. I have colleagues who are looking for jobs abroad, says Schierenbeck.
Risk of dismantling democracy
During Thursday, several protests were held outside the Knesset. It is anti-Netanyahu voters, LGBTQ activists and many ordinary voters who are demonstrating because they are worried that this will be “the beginning of the decline of the democratic institutions in Israel”, says Schierenbeck.
They oppose controversial legal reforms proposed by the government that would allow parliament to overturn Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority. There is also concern about new laws that would restrict the rights of women, LGBTQ people and the Israeli Palestinians.
But above all, the government’s stated priority to expand settlements is worrying, says Schierenbeck. On the one hand it will dilute the violence between Israel and the Palestinians and on the other hand it is illegal. According to the coalition agreement, a number of illegal settlements must be legalized and occupied land annexed.
On the right and among the ultra-Orthodox, however, jubilation is heard, says Isabell Schierenbeck. You finally get to push your policy through.
Government policy dependent on the US
Whether the new government will be able to pursue its far-right policies depends on how the United States allows Israel and this government to pursue the policies they want, says Schierenbeck.
The US, traditionally one of Israel’s staunchest allies, has already warned the new government against democratic restrictions.