After receiving the mandate to form the next government from President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on fellow lawmakers Tuesday to end their boycotts of him and join his coalition In an effort to avoid unprecedented fifth elections in two years.
"I will do everything to get Israel out of the cycle of elections. We will form a strong government — not a government of stagnation, but a government of action," the premier said. "It's time to stop the personal boycotts and disqualifications,"
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening session of the 24th Knesset
(Photo: Reuven Castro)
He added that the "task at hand was not simple but within reach."
"Just like how we brought about the economic stimulus plan to all citizens of Israel; just like how we acted to fortify our security and achieve peace with Arab countries that served all Israeli citizens — what interests me first is the historic mission to secure the existence and future of the State of Israel."
Israel's longest-serving prime minister said he considers himself "the prime minister of everyone" and vowed that a government under his leadership would continue investing large sums in Israel's Arab sector which suffers from crumbling infrastructure and high crime and poverty rates.
Netanyahu also mentioned the Iranian threat and reiterated his commitment to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. He also promised to fight the International Criminal Court's "absurd decision to accuse our soldiers, commanders of war crimes" against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
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Netanyahu in Knesset and fellow right-wing bloc members United Torah Judaism head Moshe Gafni and Shas Chairman Arye Deri
(Photo: Mark Israel Salem)
Netanyahu received the recommendations of 52 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset in Rivlin's consultations on Monday, as Jerusalem District Court saw the start of the evidentiary stage of the prime minister's trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Centrist Opposition Leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party got 45 endorsements and former defense minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Yamina got seven — all from his own party.
The breakaway right-wing New Hope led by former Likud minister Gideon Saar and the two predominantly Arab parties, Joint List and Ra'am, declined to endorse any candidate, leaving their combined 16 seats in the wind. Pleas from both Netanyahu and Lapid for support to make up their respective majority shortfalls went unanswered.
The deadlock over recommendations was a reflection of the political stalemate in the country, which held elections on March 23 — the fourth time in two years — only for the outcome to again be inconclusive.
Rivlin was reluctant to task the incumbent to form a new government and said that he felt none of the candidates had a chance of putting together a viable coalition but as he was obliged by law, he was resigned to tap Netanyahu.
"I know the position held by many, that the president should not give the role to a candidate that is facing criminal charges, but according to the law and the decision of the courts, a prime minister can continue in his role even when he is facing charges," Rivlin said in a televised address from his Jerusalem residence.
"Moreover, the question of giving the role to a candidate facing criminal charges was one of intense political and public disagreement over the recent election campaigns," he said.
But, Rivlin said, the decision "on the substantive and ethical question of the fitness of a candidate facing criminal charges to serve as prime minister" was not his to make.
"The President of the State of Israel is not a substitute for the legislature or for the judiciary," he said. "In this situation and in the absence of other options, I received my decision in accordance with the map of recommenders, which indicates a slightly higher chance of MK Benjamin Netanyahu forming a government," Rivlin concluded.
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said in response that although Rivlin "fulfilled his duty and was left with no other choice," his decision to task Netanyahu with the formation of Israel's next government was "a mark of shame for Israel and a shame for its status as a law-abiding state."
Naftali Bennett, who heads Yamina, on the other hand, was less pessimistic, telling reporters he "wishes luck" to Netanyahu in his attempt to form a coalition. "We will leave no stone unturned on a mission to prevent fifth elections, but without sacrificing our values," he said.
Netanyahu, who is Israel's longest-serving leader and in power consecutively since 2009, now has 28 days to try to put together a coalition.
He can request a two-week extension from Rivlin, who has the option of later assigning the task to someone else if the prime minister is unsuccessful.