Netanyahu Presents Agenda of New Gov’t, ‘We Will Establish Stable Government for Full Term’

Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu congratulated his party on the completion of the coalition agreements, at a Likud faction meeting on Wednesday morning.

“I wish to thank you all for your joint efforts which brought us to this day. We reached our goal. A large public in Israel, over two million Israelis, voted for the national camp, led by the Likud. We will establish a stable government for a full term which will serve all Israeli citizens.”

Netanyahu announced his new government’s agenda a day before its members are set to take their oaths of office.

The agenda, the government’s first official communication to the public about its priorities and intentions, reflects the goals of the Likud-led coalition.

“The Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel. The government will promote and develop settlement in all parts of the Land of Israel – in the Galilee, the Negev, the Golan, Yehudah and Shomron,” the agenda said.

The agenda noted several priorities in the realm of law and order.

“The government will take steps to ensure governance and restore the proper balance between the legislative, executive and judiciary,” referring to the Override Clause ”that will let the Knesset re-legislate bills struck down by the High Court as undemocratic, alongside plans to give politicians more control over the selection of judges.”

It also refers to the parties’ demands to give security forces greater leeway in using force against Palestinian terrorists. “The government will work to strengthen the security forces and to give backing to the fighters and police officers in order to fight and defeat terrorism,” it says.

Amid fears that the incoming government will move toward imposing religious law, the agenda, however, commits to maintaining the national status quo.

“The government will preserve the Jewish character of the state and the heritage of Israel, as well as respect the religions and traditions of adherents of the country’s religions, in accordance with the values of the Declaration of Independence,” it says.

“The status quo on issues of religion and state will be maintained as it has been for decades in Israel, including with regard to the holy places,” it added.

Also making the list are a commitment to education – with the government to provide free early childhood education – reducing the cost of living and tackling the housing crisis, and continuing “the struggle against Iran’s nuclear program.”

Meanwhile, the Likud has signed agreements with all of the coalition partners – United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, Noam, Shas and Otzma Yehudit – and the deals were submitted to the Knesset.

Netanyahu is distributing major ministerial portfolios to the Likud party, with MK Amir Ohana to become the next Knesset Speaker, former IDF general Yoav Galant to become the next defense minister, former Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz set to return to that position, and Tzachi Hanegbi to be the next head of the National Security Council.