The new Israeli government is officially sworn in
Xinhua News Agency, Jerusalem, May 17 (Reporter Chen Wenxian Shang Hao) The 35th Israeli government officially took office on the afternoon of the 17th in the parliament in Jerusalem, ending the country's cabinet stalemate that lasted more than a year.
In a speech at the oath ceremony, the leader of the Israeli Likud Group and the current Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the establishment of a coalition government is needed by the people. He will put aside his differences with the leader of the blue and white party, Gantz, "We choose Serve the people together. "
Netanyahu said that Israel needs "strong leadership" to deal with the current new crown epidemic and the ensuing economic crisis. In his speech, he announced the guiding principles of the new government, and also announced that Gantz will take over the post of prime minister on November 17, 2021.
Subsequently, Gantz delivered a speech saying that Netanyahu cooperated with him to form a coalition government and set a rotation date, which was "a brave and important decision." Gantz said that the new government was sworn in to end the "most serious political crisis" in Israeli history.
For more than a year, Israel has been in a stalemate in forming cabinets and the parliament has conducted three elections. On May 7, President Rivlin officially authorized Netanyahu to form a new government.
Netanyahu announced on the evening of May 13 that he had successfully formed a new government. According to the agreement he signed with Gantz on April 20, Netanyahu will be the first prime minister in the coalition government for a period of 18 months. Gantz will be deputy prime minister and defense minister; Ganz will take over as Prime Minister, and Netanyahu will become Deputy Prime Minister.
According to Israeli media reports, the new government had 34 ministers at the beginning, and will expand to 36 ministers after the epidemic. It is the “largest” government in Israeli history.