Netanyahu sworn in for unprecedented 6th term in Israel after being ousted last year

Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday returned to power for an unprecedented sixth term as Israel’s prime minister, taking on the right-wing and most religiously conservative leader in the country’s 74-year history.

The swearing-in ceremony completed the comeback of Netanyahu, who was ousted last year after 12 consecutive years in power. But he faces multiple challenges, leading an alliance of religious and far-right parties that could fuel domestic and regional unrest and alienate Israel’s closest allies.

His new administration has pledged to prioritize settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, extend massive subsidies to ultra-Orthodox allies and push for reforms to the justice system that critics say could endanger the country’s democratic institutions. The plan has caused uproar in Israeli society, sparked criticism from the military, LGBTQ rights groups, the business community and others, and raised concerns abroad.

In a tumultuous parliamentary session before his swearing-in, an aggressive Netanyahu took aim at critics, accusing the opposition of trying to intimidate the public.

“I hear the opposition cry about the end of the state and democracy,” Netanyahu said from the podium. “Members of the opposition: losing an election is not the end of democracy, it is the essence of democracy.”

The speech was interrupted repeatedly by boos and jeers from opponents, who chanted “weak, weak” – an apparent reference to the many concessions made to the new government’s partners.

Later, Netanyahu held a brief meeting with the new Cabinet, saying his priorities would include ending Iran’s nuclear program, strengthening law and order, combating the country’s high cost of living, and developing Israel’s relations with the Arab world.

“I am emotional because of the great trust that the Israeli people have placed in us,” he told the ministers, adding that he was happy to work with the “excellent team” he had assembled. “Let’s get to work.”

The longest serving prime minister

Netanyahu is the country’s longest-serving prime minister, having been in office for 15 years, including a stint in the 1990s. After four inconclusive elections in a row, he was ousted last year by a coalition of eight ideologically diverse parties joined by the opposition to his government.

The coalition collapsed in June, and Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies won a clear parliamentary majority in November elections.

The country remains deeply divided over Netanyahu, who is still on trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three corruption cases. He denied all charges, saying he was the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors.

Netanyahu currently leads a government made up of a hardline religious ultranationalist party dominated by West Bank settlers, two ultra-Orthodox parties and the nationalist Likud party. They have approved a number of coalition guidelines and agreements that go beyond the targets promised on Thursday and, some say, risk undermining Israel’s democratic institutions and deepening the conflict with the Palestinians.

A long-liner hard on Palestine, Netanyahu has been a strong supporter of Israel’s West Bank settlements. That is only expected to be kicked into overdrive under the new government. Netanyahu has created a special ministerial post that gives firebrand settler leaders widespread authority over settlement policy. The coalition’s platform says that “Jews have exclusive and indisputable rights” over all of Israel and the Palestinian territories and pledges to make settlement expansion a top priority.

These include the legalization of dozens of illegal outposts and a commitment to annex the entire region, a move that would end any remaining hope for a Palestinian state and draw fierce international opposition.

Israel seized the West Bank in 1967 along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem – areas sought by the Palestinians for a future state. Israel has built dozens of Jewish settlements that are home to about 500,000 Israelis who live alongside 2.5 million Palestinians.

Alarm abroad and at home

Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The United States has warned the incoming government against taking steps that could undermine hopes for an independent Palestinian state.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday called Netanyahu a “friend of many decades” and said he looked forward to working with him “to jointly address the many challenges and opportunities facing Israel and the Middle East region, including threats from Iran.”

However, Biden warned, the US will “continue to support the two-state solution and oppose policies that endanger its viability or contradict our interests and values.”

At home, the new government has alarmed pro-government groups with plans to overhaul the legal system – including a proposal that would curb the power of an independent judiciary by allowing parliament to overturn Supreme Court rulings. Critics say this would undermine the country’s system of checks and balances and clear the way for Netanyahu’s criminal trial to be dismissed.

There are also concerns about the rollback of minority and LGBTQ rights. Members of the Religious Zionist party said they would amend the country’s anti-discrimination law to allow businesses and doctors to discriminate against the LGBTQ community based on religious faith.

Outside the parliament, several thousand protesters waved Israel’s gay pride and rainbow flags. “We don’t want fascists in the Knesset!” they sing. Many LGBTQ supporters shouted “Shame!” blocking entrances to major intersections and highways in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu has promised to protect minorities and LGBTQ rights. Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu loyalist, was elected the first gay parliament speaker on Thursday as his partner and two children watched from the audience.

On stage, Ohana turned around and promised the new government would respect everyone. “This Knesset, under the leadership of this speaker, will not hurt him or any other child or family,” he said.

LGBTQ groups welcomed Ohana’s appointment, but fear the new government is using the appointment as a smokescreen to reverse the gains the community has made in recent years.

Yair Lapid, the prime minister who is now the leader of the opposition, told parliament that he was handing over to the new government “a very good country, with a strong economy, with better defense capabilities and strong deterrence, with one of the best international rankings.”

“Try not to destroy it. We will come back,” said Lapid.