Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu pledged today, Wednesday, that expanding settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories will be a top priority for his government, which he will present to the Knesset tomorrow, and to continue the war on Iran's nuclear program.

During the presentation of the new government's policy in the Knesset, Netanyahu stressed that it will work to promote and develop settlement throughout what he called "the land of Israel" in the Galilee, the Negev, the Golan and the West Bank, saying that this is an exclusive and indisputable right of the Israeli people, as he put it.

Netanyahu presented the coalition agreements signed with his partners in the new government to the Knesset Plenary as a prelude to gaining confidence.

These agreements provide for the strengthening of settlements in the West Bank and the expansion of Hebron settlements in particular, in addition to working to legislate a law to impose the death penalty against Palestinians accused of carrying out operations against Israelis, and to make legal amendments that require the withdrawal of nationality and residency and the deportation of every Palestinian who carries out an attack against Israeli targets.

The Israeli Knesset approved a law to expand the powers of the leader of the "extreme religious Zionism" coalition, Itamar Ben Gvir, as Minister of National Security.

The vote on the law came as part of other legal amendments made by the government coalition that preceded the signing of coalition agreements by its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, with his partners in the religious and ultra-Orthodox Zionist parties.

Tomorrow, Netanyahu is scheduled to present his government to the Knesset for a vote of confidence, after which its members are supposed to be sworn in.

The Israeli government - which is supposed to gain the confidence of the Knesset - is described as the most right-wing in the history of Israel.

It includes extremist parties such as "Jewish Power" led by Itamar Ben Gvir, "Religious Zionism" led by Bezalel Smotrich, and "Shas" headed by Aryeh Deri.

Future Israeli opposition leaders have vowed to work against Netanyahu's government, which they say could turn Israel into a theocracy. The composition of the government has also raised concern in Washington because of the extremist positions of a number of its members.

Hanegbi previously held the Ministries of Internal Security and Regional Cooperation and is described as close to Netanyahu (Reuters - Archive)

National Security Adviser

Yesterday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister-designate issued a statement announcing the appointment of former minister Tzachi Hanegbi of the Likud Party as head of the National Security Council, to succeed Eyala Hulata at the head of this security institution affiliated with the government.

The appointment of Tzachi Hanegbi, 65, was described as a big surprise, because he was not elected to the Knesset in the elections that took place last November, and he came late on the Likud party's list in the party's primaries last August.

However, the official Hebrew channel "Kan" said that Hanegbi is close to Netanyahu and enjoys his confidence, so he decided to appoint him to this sensitive position.

The new head of the National Security Council had previously held ministerial positions, including internal security and regional cooperation.