By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of his inauguration, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday met with the Parliament where he listed the priority of his government to include, stopping Iran’s nuclear programme, developing state infrastructure, and restoring internal security and governance to Israel.
Netanyahu during a special Knesset session also said that he will work to tackle the rising cost of living and improve education.
Netanyahu who makes a comeback as premier, succeeding a coalition government headed by Yair Lapid during his speech also nominated the former Israeli intelligence minister, Eli Cohen as foreign minister.
Meanwhile, Israeli left-wing and centrist activists gathered in front of the Knesset to protest against Netanyahu’s new government.
“Today, outside the Knesset, ahead of the swearing in of the new government: In the name of Judaism – we came to defend democracy. To raise a voice against radicalization and incitement, racism and exclusion. Our fight will not dissipate or despair”, the Reform Judaism Israel said.
In his farewell address as the PM, Yair Lapid said that he is passing on the change “with an unquiet heart”. Mentioning the Abraham Accords, Lapid said that “we laid the foundations for Saudi joining the Abraham Accords”.
He added, “The secret details will be handed to the incoming prime minister. If the new government continues in the route we carved out, normalisation with the Saudis can be reached in a short time.”
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalised relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020. Netanyahu seeks to expand it to Saudi Arabia.
