Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Israel, as the head of a government that some observers are calling the most right-wing in the country’s history.
This follows stints as Prime Minister between 1996 and 1999 and again from 2009 and 2021.
Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the single largest party in an election held in November, but fell far short of a majority, winning 32 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, as the Israeli parliament is known. However, with the support of a number of right-wing parties Netanyahu manged to cobble together a coalition which controls 64 seats in the Knesset.
Speaking to the Knesset Netanyahu was quoted as saying: ‘I hear the opposition’s constant laments about ‘the end of the state’, ‘the end of democracy’. Members of the opposition, losing the elections is not the end of democracy – this is the essence of democracy.’
This was amid protests outside the Knesset, as demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with the new government.
There are concerns that the new government could see tensions increase between Israel and Palestine, as well as Israel and its neighbours. There are also concerns that the new government could work to undermine the judiciary and push back on LGBT rights.