Benjamin Netanyahu, April 5, 2021 in Jerusalem. – Abir Sultan / AP / SIPA
Bibi, here we go again! Outgoing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, indicted for corruption, was tasked on Tuesday with forming the next government in Israel despite his inability to muster enough support in parliament, amid deep political divisions.
Two weeks after legislative elections that looked like a referendum for or against the most lasting Prime Minister in Israel’s history, the latter was appointed by President Reuven Rivlin to set up a new ministerial team.
“Not an easy decision”
“I made my decision based on (party) recommendations that MP Benyamin Netanyahu has a greater possibility of forming a government,” Reuven Rivlin said in a televised statement. “That’s why I decided to ask him to form a government. “
“It’s not an easy decision for me, both morally and ethically,” added this former member of Likud, the right-wing party of Benyamin Netanyahu, the day after the resumption of the trial of the prime minister indicted for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases.
Not enough support for the Knesset
Usually, the president appoints the candidate who has received the support of 61 (of the 120) deputies in the Knesset, but “no candidate has a real possibility” of achieving it, estimated Reuven Rivlin, whose disagreement with the Prime Minister outgoing is known.
Benyamin Netanyahu, along with his allies from the ultra-Orthodox parties and the far-right “Religious Zionism” party, won the support of 52 parliamentarians. Facing him, the centrist Yaïr Lapid was recommended by 45 deputies. The first head of government in Israel’s history to face criminal charges while in office, Benjamin Netanyahu firmly denies all charges.
“A shame that tarnishes Israel”
Reuven Rivlin sought to explain his choice. “I know the position that many share, that the president should not give this task to a candidate who faces criminal charges, but depending on the law and the court ruling, a prime minister can continue to play his very role. when faced with charges, ”he said.
“Giving the mandate to Netanyahu is a shame that tarnishes Israel”, reacted Yair Lapid even though he considered that the president had “fulfilled his duty (…)”. Coincidentally, the consultations the day before between the parties and the president coincided with the resumption of the trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the prosecutor accused the prime minister of having used his power “illegitimately”.
A puzzle to form the government
The person concerned reacted by accusing in turn the prosecutor’s office of having “illegitimately used the power conferred on him”, using the exact words of the prosecutor. For the time being, the trial does not threaten the ambitions of Benjamin Netanyahu since he would only have to resign in the event of a final conviction, and the exhaustion of all remedies could take years.
The task of Benjamin Netanyahu promises to be complex as the country is divided with in particular 13 parties sharing the 120 seats in Parliament. At 71, he could reach out to his former colt Naftali Bennett, leader of the radical right.
28 days + 14 maximum
The latter said on Tuesday at a press conference that he refused an offer from Yaïr Lapid to form a unity government based on a rotation at the head of the government between the two men. He added that he wanted a “stable and right-wing” government, saying that it “will never give up (its) values”.
There is also Israeli Arab Mansour Abbas, whose Islamist party Raam, surprised the March 23 elections by winning four seats and who did not recommend any candidate, saying only that he would negotiate with the nominee. Problem: the formation “Religious Zionism”, ally of Benyamin Netanyahu, categorically refuses to be part of an alliance with Raam.
Usually, the nominee has 28 days to form a government, which can be extended by 14 days. If this fails, new elections could be called, prolonging the crisis in Israel.