President Isaac Herzog on Sunday formally designateג Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government, a victory for the former veteran prime minister who had vowed to return to power.
After a period of unprecedented political gridlock that forced five elections in less than four years, polls on November 1 gave Netanyahu and his far-right allies a clear majority in the 120-seat parliament. Herzog formally tasked after 64 lawmakers recommended Netanyahu be tapped for the job.
The result has all but sealed Netanyahu's comeback, paving the way for him to form a government that could be the most right-wing in the country's history.
The veteran right-winger, who is on trial over corruption allegations that he denies, will have at least 28 days to build a coalition with his allies - two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties a rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism.
The 73-year-old Netanyahu delivered a speech following Herzog's announcement. "There are many who welcome the election results, but some predict it to herald the end of democracy. This is not the first time such things have been said. It was not true then, and it is not true today," Netanyahu said.
Referring to Netanyahu's ongoing criminal trial, Herzog said during the ceremony he is "not oblivious to the fact that there are ongoing legal proceedings against Mr. Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, and I do not trivialize this at all."
"Nevertheless, it is important to note the Supreme Court has already expressed itself clearly on the matter of pending indictments against a member of Knesset nominated for the role of forming a government, in a number of rulings, including with an expanded panel of eleven justices, when the task of forming a government was assigned to Mr. Netanyahu by my predecessor, President Reuven Rivlin.
"In light of all this, having considered the facts in accordance with the law, and after you gave your consent to this, as required by law, I have decided to assign to you, Benjamin Netanyahu - the task of forming a government."
The former premier has been indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He denies any wrongdoing.
Netanyahu's new government is widely expected to pass sweeping judicial reforms, a long-held priority of Israel's right. That could include a so-called "override clause," giving parliament the right to overrule the supreme court any time it declares legislation to be illegal.
Netanyahu's government may also take full control over appointing Supreme Court judges, a role currently held by a panel of lawmakers, sitting judges and lawyers.
"It is difficult for me to exaggerate the damage and danger" of the proposed reforms, said Suzie Navot, a constitutional law professor at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank.
Netanyahu can seek a two-week extension to his initial mandate, but is expected to announce a coalition deal reasonably quickly, given broad ideological unity within the incoming government.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, co-leaders of the Religious Zionism bloc, have publicly demanded control of two key ministries - public security and defense.
Ben-Gvir, a firebrand known for anti-Arab rhetoric and incendiary calls for Israel to annex the entire West Bank, has repeatedly urged for the security services to use more force in countering Palestinian unrest.
Violence has soared between Israel and the Palestinians, and recent months have been the deadliest period in years in the West Bank according to the United Nations, with near daily army raids and an increase in clashes and attacks on Israeli forces.
Netanyahu's previous terms in office saw what little remained of the Middle East peace process collapse in a surge of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Herzog, whose role is largely symbolic, was reported to have tried to convince outgoing premier Yair Lapid and his defense minister Benny Gantz to form a unity cabinet with Netanyahu, in order to keep Ben-Gvir from entering government.
The presidency publicly denied the claims.
But Herzog this week told Ben-Gvir that he had received "questions from Israeli citizens and world leaders... very sensitive questions on human rights".
"There is a certain image of you and your party which seems, and I'll say it in all honesty, worrying in many regards," he added.
First published: 11:24, 11.13.22