Israel’s citizens are proud of their country, but at the same time “exhausted by the power struggle and its consequences”. It was the fifth election in just three and a half years. According to Herzog, it is now the responsibility of the elected representatives to “continue to strengthen the partnership between all layers of Israeli society, all religions and faiths”.
In the November 1 parliamentary election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing conservative Likud party emerged as the strongest faction with 32 of the 120 seats. Incumbent Prime Minister Jair Lapid’s liberal Future Party came in second with 24 seats. For the first time, a right-wing extremist alliance was the third strongest force – the Religious Zionist Party had 14 seats and can count on participating in the government. Herzog on Sunday ordered Netanyahu to form a government.
The new elections became necessary after the coalition of eight parties forged by Lapid lost its majority after only 12 months.
MPs’ swearing in was overshadowed by a morning attack near an Israeli settler town in the West Bank that left three dead and several seriously injured. According to the army, an 18-year-old Palestinian attacked several Israelis with a knife in Ariel. While fleeing, he then caused a multi-vehicle accident and injured other civilians.
At the beginning of his speech, Herzog expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. Tensions in the occupied West Bank had risen again in recent months. Security also played an important role in the elections.
(SDA)