Netanyahu sworn back into power, vows more Jewish settlements and Israeli redirect back to conservatism

Benjamin Netanyahu has officially returned as Israel’s prime minister after being sworn in as the leader of a new conservative government coalition. His return to power will mark his sixth term in office as prime minister 18 months after he was ousted by a liberal coalition that a little more than a year.

As part of its immediate agenda, Netanyahu’s Likud Party is aiming to support more construction for Jewish settlements along the West Bank, amp up immigration laws and enforce the death penalty for terrorists.

He is also positioned to fill critical cabinet positions such as defense, justice and foreign minister.

Netanyahu's Likud coalition agreements with Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Strength) and the Religious Zionist Party center around promoting Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and areas such as the Galilee, the Negev and the Golan Heights, areas which are now legally under Israeli jurisdiction.

About a half million Israelis live in the West Bank with 2.5 million Palestinians, a fact for which Israel condemnation since some in the global community believe the West Bank should be treated as an independent and sovereign Palestinian territory or nation with statehood.  

Netanyahu’s new conservative coalition was criticized by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' and his spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, who said the political shift was a "dangerous escalation and will have repercussions for the region," Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Rudeineh said the Biden administration should “turn its words into deeds since it is committed to the two-state solution, without which there will be no stability in the region.”

The new conservative government is expected to make some sweeping changes as part of the coalition agreements, which enabled Netanyahu to return to power.  

Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid tweeted in jest just before the vote, “We pass on to you a state in excellent condition. Try not to ruin it, we’ll be right back. The handover files are ready.”