Israel’s Netanyahu tapped to form next government

AFP :
Israel’s veteran ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu secured a mandate on Sunday to form a new government, paving the way for his comeback at the helm of what is expected to be the most right-wing administration in the country’s history. After a period of unprecedented political gridlock that forced five elections in less than four years, November 1 polls gave Netanyahu and his far-right allies a clear majority in the 120-seat parliament.
“I have decided to assign to you, Benjamin Netanyahu, the task of forming a government,” President Isaac Herzog told him at a ceremony in Jerusalem.
Accepting the mandate, the 73-year-old Netanyahu vowed to serve all Israelis, “those who voted for us and those who did not — it is my responsibility.”
The veteran right-winger, who is fighting corruption allegations in court, will have at least 28 days to build a coalition with his allies — two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties a rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism.
Herzog noted Netanyahu’s ongoing trial, saying: “I am not oblivious, of course, to the fact that there are ongoing legal proceedings against Mr Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, and I do not trivialise this at all”.
But he noted that recent precedent made clear Netanyahu could serve as prime minister while contesting the allegations.
Netanyahu’s next moves will be closely scrutinized as unease mounts in some quarters over his policy plans and the goals of his controversial governing partners.
The new government is widely expected to pass sweeping judicial reforms, a long-held priority of Israel’s right. That could include a so-called “override clause” giving parliament the right to overrule the supreme court any time it declares legislation to be illegal.