Netanyahu says new govt will be sworn-in with pledge of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday anunced that a new government led by him will be sworn-in with a pledge of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank to “write ar glorified chapter in history of Zionism".

On Wednesday, Netanyahu, 70, anunced that he has succeeded in forming a unity government in letters sent to President Reuven Rivlin, and Blue and White party Chairman Benny Gantz, who was temporarily serving as speaker of Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

"It's time to apply Israeli law and write ar glorified chapter in history of Zionism," Netanyahu, who last year in July became Israel's longest serving Prime Minister surpassing David Ben-Gurion, said ahe of swearing-in.

government was to be sworn-in on Thursday but internal squabbles in ruling Likud party over ministerial claims postponed it.

new government, which according to coalition agreement, will see Gantz replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister after 18 months on vember 17, 2021, as per power-sharing deal.

Netanyahu would n acquire title of "Alternate Prime Minister", something that Gantz would w enjoy while also being Defence Minister.

" time has come for anyone who believes in justness of our rights in Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process toger," Netanyahu said on Israeli sovereignty over West Bank.

issue is "on nda" only because I acted on it personally," he stressed, saying he pushed for it for three years, publicly and covertly.

Dismissing claims that it will harm efforts to strike a peace deal with Palestinians, hawkish Israeli leer emphasised that on contrary it will promote chances.

“se regions are crle of Jewish people. It is time to extend Israel’s law over m. This step won’t bring us furr away from peace, it will get us closer. truth is, and everyone kws it, that hundreds of thousands of settlers in Judea and Samaria will always stay put in any future deal,” Netanyahu said.

vast majority of international community considers Israeli settlements in region to be illegal under international law, and as such stands against proposed annexation of area and or areas of West Bank, such as fertile Jordan Valley.

However, Israel's close ally US has pledged to support move as part of its "Deal of Century" peace proposal unveiled earlier this year. plan backs Israel's annexation of most Israeli settlements and Jordan Valley as long as it enters into peace negotiations with Palestinians.

European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissue Israel from going ahe with move.

Some analysts have said that annexation could prompt a break-down in 1994 peace treaty signed between Israel and its neighbour Jordan. A former minister of Jordan, Marwan al-Muasher, during a webinar last week, did t rule out possibility of his country walking out of historic agreement if Israel moves ahe with unilateral annexation.

According to Netanyahu-Gantz pact, government can begin moves to implement Trump ministration's peace plan from July 1.

“re will be peace with occupation and aparid”, an Arab lawmaker, Yousef Jabareen, said.

Netanyahu praised US’ support for move, but ded that "Israel should rely only on itself to defend itself".

He also claimed that unity government between him and Gantz avoided a fourth round of elections, which would have threatened government's response to coronavirus crisis.

" majority of public is gl to accept a unity government. public wants a unity government, and that's what public is getting today," he said.

He also pointed out that his Likud party "received highest number of votes a party ever received in history of country".

Netanyahu was constantly booed by Opposition members who shouted, "election fraud" and "pathological liar" while he spoke.

government with 32 ministers initially will swell to 36 in six months, making it largest government in Jewish state's history.

Prominent ministerial appointments include Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White party) as foreign minister, Israel Katz (Likud) as finance minister, Avi Nissenkorn (Blue and White party) as Justice minister and Likud Yuli Edelstein (Likud) as health minister.

Netanyahu’s close confidante Amir Ohana, currently serving as interim Justice Minister, is expected to receive public security portfolio, which oversees law enforcement.

During his tenure as justice minister, Ohana repeatedly attacked judiciary and those leing it as y pushed forward with criminal investigations, and eventually indictments, against Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and his trial is set to start later this month.

Ohana’s possible appointment as public security minister has sparked speculation among top police officials that he may oppose possible new probes against Netanyahu.

beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister mand to hold on to his right-wing bloc amid three inconclusive polls to force his main rival Gantz to finally succumb to demand of a bro national unity government.