Earlier today, Israel's Knesset gave its approval to a new government headed by right-wing Likud party leader Bibi "Bomb Bomb" Netanyahu, ending over a year of deadlock with the rival Blue and White party leader Benny Ganz. Netanyahu will serve the first half of a three year term, while Ganz will serve the second half, creating the position of "alternate Prime Minister."
Netanyahu, who faces a trial next week on corruption charges, is expected to move forward with his plan to essentially annex Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in the Jordan Valley, areas that were intended to be for a Palestinian state after the Kingdom of Jordan relinquished its claim to the West Bank over 30 years ago. The move will almost certainly provoke a confrontation with the Palestinian Authority and with militant Palestinian groups. Even Jordan has warned Netanyahu that his annexation plans will produce a "massive conflict" with them.
In compromising with Netanyahu, Ganz's power sharing deal has angered many of his party's members, who recall Ganz's rationale for running for Prime Minister as the removal of Netanyahu. He's also given Netanyahu a potential "get out of jail free" card for three years: as alternate Prime Minister in the second half of the term, Netanyahu would avoid having to resign under rules that allow a Prime Minister to remain in office if charged with a crime. Meanwhile, Middle East peace seems further away than in decades as Israel's Trump plows forward.
(photo: Ganz, left, and Netanyahu at today's swearing in of new government. Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
