BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Knesset yesterday prior to the swearing in of the country’s thirty third government.

Although the new coalition appears to be focused primarily on tackling internal social and economic issues, Netanyahu emphasised his desire to return to substantive peace talks with the Palestinians. During his speech he said, “We stretch out our hand in peace to the Palestinians,” adding that “Israel has proven time and again it is ready for concessions in exchange for real peace, and the situation today is no different.” Netanyahu added, “With a Palestinian partner that is willing to hold negotiations in good will, Israel will be ready for a historic compromise that will end the conflict with the Palestinians once and for all.”

However, he also warned that Israel faces challenges which “are greater than they have been since the establishment of the state… Iran has yet to cross the red line but is getting closer to it. Syria is splitting into pieces, and weapons are leaking out.”

Responding to Netanyahu’s speech, leader of the opposition, Labour Party head Shelly Yachimovich pledged to the Prime Minister “If you get even to an interim agreement… I promise you… we will join your government in order to see through such a move.” However, on internal affairs Yachimovich said that the coalition represents “a detachment from what is happening in Israeli society. It’s not just money but values and the right to education and a roof over our heads.” Meanwhile, seven members of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, also members of the opposition, briefly walked out of the plenum in protest at their exclusion from government.

In other parliamentary business, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein was elected as the new Knesset Speaker.