It will be the most right-wing government in the history of Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu, holder of the record for longevity at the head of the country, must present his cabinet on Thursday, December 29, during an extraordinary session of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.
However, final negotiations should still take place between the Likud, its ultra-Orthodox allies and the extreme right parties of the coalition: the Prime Minister has in fact until January 2 to conclude agreements with his new partners.
If nothing is yet official, certain details and points of agreement have nevertheless leaked out in recent days, confirming the colossal influence that formations long considered pariahs of Israeli politics are preparing to play.
Not content with inheriting key positions, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party, who will head a "superministry" of national security, these small political formations should also impose on the Likud large parts of their programs.
>> To read on France24.com: Itamar Ben Gvir, an ultranationalist accused of having fueled violence in Jerusalem
"Netanyahu is hard pressed with a trial where he risks being condemned. He is ready to pay any price and these parties have understood this very well. So this is the first time that parties composed of seven or eight MKs out of a majority of 64 get as many things,” analyzes Franco-Israeli historian Simon Epstein.
Incitement to hatred and anti-LGBT+ discrimination
Among the most controversial bills is the end of the ban on sitting for MPs guilty of incitement to racial hatred.
A provision widely perceived as a tailor-made law for the Jewish supremacist Itamar Ben Gvir, condemned on numerous occasions for his provocations and his hate speech.
This clause was introduced by the Knesset in 1985 to prevent supporters of the Kahanist movement, led by the extremist rabbi Meir Kahane, of whom Ben Gvir is a disciple, from entering parliament.
"This law worked for years but Ben Gvir forced the dam with the help of Netanyahu by presenting himself as non-racist [Itamar Ben Gvir was elected deputy in March 2021, editor's note]. Now he wants to widen the breach" , explains the specialist in anti-Semitism and racism, Simon Epstein.
The new coalition's projects also raise fears of discrimination against LBGT+ people.
Evidenced by the agreement between Likud and United Torah Judaism, one of the main ultra-Orthodox religious parties in the country.
In particular, it plans to modify current legislation to allow service providers to refuse customers “on the basis of religious beliefs”.
Pledges to the ultra-Orthodox
Several coalition parties present themselves as openly homophobic parties, including the Noam party led by Avi Maoz.
As good students in the Middle East, many Israelis now fear a rollback of gay rights in their country.
"There will also be the aspect of the values that will be disseminated in the education system, justice... In general, the basic values of society will be turned upside down", deplores Simon Espstein.
Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have yielded on many points to the ultra-Orthodox, who could obtain exemptions from the obligation of military service for students of religion or even the authorization of the public financing of single-sex events.
Finally, the Likud is also said to have consented to a significant increase in subsidies granted to establishments providing religious education.
"The ultra-Orthodox want to get as much money as possible from the state to feed their people because the men don't work. Moreover, they want to impose their primitive conception of Judaism on the whole of society, such as absolute respect Shabbat," said Simon Epstein.
Death penalty for terrorists
Supporter of the extension of Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories, the new government could present a plan for the pure and simple annexation of the West Bank, according to the Israeli press.
This possibility had already been defended by Donald Trump in 2020 during the presentation of a "peace plan" very favorable to Israel.
>> See also: In the West Bank, new militias attract disillusioned Palestinian youth
However, “this commitment is formulated in vague terms, which could allow Netanyahu to do nothing with it in practice,” notes The Times of Israel.
Moreover, the Biden administration will never approve such an annexation, which is completely contrary to international law.
With the arrival of figures from the Israeli far right in power, many also expect a tightening of the security screws.
Evidenced by the will of Otzma Yehudit to impose the death penalty for terrorists.
In Israel, the death penalty is legal but it is never applied in practice.
It was used only once, in 1962, against the Nazi war criminal and responsible for the logistics of the "Final Solution", Adolf Eichmann.
Again, the Likud is unlikely to put such a provision into practice both because of international pressure but also the security consequences, according to Simon Epstein.
"There is a risk of reprisals, for example kidnappings which would precede an execution. It is a risk that no society which finds itself in this permanent confrontation with terrorism can take."
Judicial counterweight suspended
A cornerstone of the new government's policy, the reform of the judicial system must make it possible to circumvent the decisions of the Supreme Court unfavorable to government bills.
It is considered a priority for the parties in power.
For critics of the coalition, this reform would completely upset the balance of Israeli democracy because the country does not have a constitution strictly speaking, but Basic Laws, of which the judiciary is the guarantor.
>> To read also: the far-right government in Israel, "a test for democracy"
"The coalition seeks to destroy this judicial counterweight which ensured the pre-eminence of a certain number of values including equality between people without distinction of religion or sex", explains Simon Epstein who sees a convergence of interests here. within the coalition.
“Religious people want to end it to ensure the supremacy of the Jewish religion, Netanyahu supporters to free him from trial, annexation advocates to free their supporters from limits on violence against Palestinians. "
This conservative coup which would open the door to a whole series of attacks on fundamental rights is the subject of many concerns in Israel within the political class and civil society.
The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, was moved at the end of December, denouncing "a democracy on paper, but not in substance".
As for Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv, a city reputed to be a secular and progressive bastion, he recently felt that Israel was in the process of moving "from a democracy to a theocracy".
"It's a revolution," warns Simon Epstein.
"These parties finally obtained the transformation of a liberal democracy which functioned more or less well into an authoritarian regime, theocratic in many aspects, racist in others".
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