Benjamin Netanyahu will be sworn in as Israel’s prime minister for a record sixth time later today, marking an extraordinary return for the veteran politician.
Mr Netanyahuwhose coalition won a clear majority in the November elections, will lead a highly controversial right-wing government.
The ministerial terms of Itamar Ben-Gvir, previously convicted of incitement to racism, and Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, have caused considerable unease.
Mr. Smotrich, a staunch supporter of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, will become finance minister and take up a post in the Defense Ministry that will give him sweeping powers over the occupied territories.
Mr. Ben-Gvir, who repeatedly threatened and incited Palestinians to the East Jerusalemwill be Minister of National Security, giving him control of the Israel Police.
Earlier in the year, during protests in the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, he was heard urging police to fire on Palestinian protesters; we understand that he wants to relax the rules governing the use of live fire.
These are the concerns within Israel and internationally, that Israeli President Isaac Herzog summoned Mr. Ben-Gvir to a meeting in his office yesterday, a highly unusual move.
“During their meeting, President Herzog expressed his deep concern and presented Mr. Ben-Gvir with the voices of broad sections of the nation and the Jewish world concerned about the new government,” a statement read.
Senior IDF officers have also spoken publicly and privately about their fears of changing the security status in the West Bank. Outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz said it was “quite foreseeable” that stability in the region would be affected.
And, already, foreign governments and organizations have begun to express their uneasiness.
The European Union has canceled a proposed cooperation agreement between Europol and the Israeli police, believed to be the result of fears that it would allow Mr Ben-Gvir access to sensitive information, and to protest against plans to change the status of illegal settlers in West Bank.
The White House has been careful not to overtly criticize or pass judgment on the new government, but has been visibly critical of Israeli behavior in the West Bank since the November elections.
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And the United Nations is increasingly concerned that a change in the status of illegal Israeli settlers could lead to the effective annexation of West Bank land.
Mr Netanyahu, who has cut many bridges over his long career and alienated political allies, must lead this fragile coalition.
He himself is still on trial for corruption and fraud charges, but is seeking to change parliamentary legislation to have the case thrown out.
Senior Israeli jurists have warned that this could permanently undermine the justice system and democracy.
