Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu appointed former minister Tzachi Hanegbi of the Likud Party as head of the National Security Council, to succeed Eyala Holata at the head of this security institution affiliated with the government.
Yesterday evening, Tuesday, Netanyahu issued a statement announcing the appointment of Hanegbi (65 years) to this position, which is the first official appointment announced in the upcoming government.
It is scheduled that the Israeli Prime Minister-designate will present his government to the Knesset tomorrow, Thursday, for a vote on it.
The appointment of Tzachi Hanegbi as head of the Israeli National Security Council was described as a great 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.
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.
In the context, the "Axios" news website stated - quoting informed sources - that a number of American Jewish leaders warned - during a meeting held at the Israeli embassy in Washington on the seventh of December - that the racist and extremist moves of the new Israeli government President Benjamin Netanyahu has seriously hampered American Jewish support for Israel.