With Benjamin Netanyahu officially forming his new government in Israel this Wednesday, anti-Palestinian policies are already signaling the true extremist nature of what Bibi has put together.
After nearly four years of political deadlock in Israel and five elections, Benjamin Netanyahu could finally succeed in forming a government and prevent another turn out.
“I am informing you that I have been able to establish a government,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement this Wednesday. The statement was issued while only less than 30 minutes was left before Netanyahu’s deadline to form a coalition expire.
But 73-year-old Bibi, who served as the prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021, is now returning to power with a right-wing religious government coalition. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, was announced by Netanyahu as the Public Security Minister. This means that Ben-Gvir will have full control and command over Israeli police forces.
To make matters even worse, Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, was also announced as Minister of Finance in Netanyahu’s incoming government.
For these designations and many more which are on the way, Netanyahu’s government is expected to be the most right-wing government in Israel history. Netanyahu said this Friday that he intends to complete the process of government forming “as soon as possible next week”. But as the far-right government is still taking shape, anti-Palestinian policies are already being implemented particularly against the people in the West Bank.
Netanyahu allocated $2.3bn for settler roads in West Bank
On this Friday and only two days after the official announcement of the start of the new government in Israel, the Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom said that Netanyahu has allocated “an unprecedented finance” for settlement initiatives within the occupied West Bank. The new settlement project is a part of the settlement between the Likud and the Spiritual Zionist get together and is led by Smotrich, the new Minister of Finance.
Bibi also approved 36,000 new housing units in city of Holon
An yet another anti-Palestinian move, the new government in Israel has approved the construction of 36,000 new housing units in the city of Holon near Tel Aviv.
In this regard, the Times of Israel said on Friday that “the plan will see the addition of 30,000 new housing units, as well as 6,000 smaller apartments of up to 65 square meters (about 700 square feet) that can serve as rental units, assisted living units, and student housing, according to the proposal”.
Eran Nitzan, chairman of the Tel Aviv District Planning and Zoning Committee, said Holon “should be congratulated” for its “courage” in leading this project. “For the first time in Israel, an urban renewal plan has been approved for most of the city’s area,” he added.
Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir agreed to dismiss teachers who criticize Israel occupation
Last but not least, Netanyahu and his far-right ally in the coalition government, Ben-Gvir, announced of a controversial decision this Friday, according to which, teachers who criticize the Israeli occupation must be dismissed from their jobs.
According to a report by Arab48 on Friday, the two heads of the new government in Israel issued a statement announcing their decision and describing the teachers who are not approving the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories or take part in anti-Israeli occupation protest as ‘terrorists’. Netanyahu was reported to have agreed to the deal first proposed by Ben-Gvir as part of last-minute coalition negotiations.
