The Likud of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assured that it will work to form «as quickly as possible» Israel’s new government, following the victory of the bloc he leads in the early legislative elections held on November 1.
«We will make an effort to form a government as quickly as possible,» said Yariv Levin, a senior party official, after Israeli President Isaac Herzog received the official results on Wednesday and began the process of consultations with the political formations.
Levin, an advisor to Netanyahu and head of the Likud delegation to the talks, stressed that the party «is in favor of dialogue» and qualified that «dialogue is not a word to whitewash paralysis», as reported by the newspaper ‘The Times of Israel’.
In this line, Eli Cohen, part of the Likud delegation, has emphasized that the new Executive will be formed «in the coming weeks». Netanyahu did not attend the official consultations with Herzog, who promised to deliver on Sunday, at the latest, the mandate for the formation of the Government.
Herzog himself said Wednesday that «everyone» is concerned about the possible role in the Executive of far-right MP Itamar Ben Gvir, who has asked to be put in charge of the Public Security Ministry as part of his support for Likud.
Herzog, whose words were captured by an open microphone during a meeting, said that «there is a matter he doesn’t want to talk about because he doesn’t want to embarrass anyone.» «They’re going to have a problem with the Temple Mount,» he said, using the name given by Jews to the Esplanade of the Mosques.
In this regard, he stressed in reference to Ben Gvir that the Likud «has a partner who generates anxiety for everyone.» «I have also said it to him, between us. It is not something to be published. I don’t want to cause a problem, but I think you have a responsibility,» he concluded.
Ben Gvir, leader of the extremist Otzma Yehudi, has been accused in the past of inciting violence and whipping up tensions with Palestinians. The MP has made numerous visits to the Esplanade of the Mosques and supports allowing Jews to pray at the site, which is currently forbidden.
If appointed Minister of Public Security, Ben Gvir would be in charge of security operations at the Esplanade of the Mosques, located in the Old City of Jerusalem and the epicenter of tensions in recent months between Israelis and Palestinians, who protest against violations of the status quo at the site.
The Likud-led bloc, which has the support of ultra-Orthodox and ultra-right parties, has 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, so Netanyahu has the way open to return to office less than two years after his electoral defeat.
For his part, the current Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, could receive the support of the Labor leader, Meirav Michaeli, although other of his partners, such as the National Union and Yisrael Beitenu, as well as the Arab parties Raam and Hadash-Taal would not recommend any candidate.
