Israel’s new government is expected to be more religious and nationalist than ever. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government raises concerns in the outside world about an escalation in the West Bank.
After extensive negotiations and far-reaching concessions on the part of 73-year-old Netanyahu, both in terms of policy and ministerial posts, Israel’s new government is sworn in on Thursday.
Legislative marathon in the Knesset
At the same time, the trial continues against Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of, among other things, corruption. Netanyahu is now doing just about everything to avoid a trial, says our foreign commentator TV4 Nyheterna Elisabet Frerot. Netanyahu is notorious for letting down his allies. The new laws are concessions to gain access to power and the plan is to push through more laws to get away. For example, he wants to make it more difficult for the Supreme Court to be independent in order to clean up corruption cases.
How much influence the most extreme get politically is still unclear, says Anders Persson. But the concerns are clear and real. That doesn’t mean they come true, but it is a potential crossroads for Israel.
Click in the player above to hear Frerot and Anders Persson, political scientist and Israel expert at Linnaeus University, explain the increased tension in the Middle East.