On Thursday, the Israeli Knesset granted confidence to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
63 Knesset members voted with confidence, while 54 others voted against (out of 120), according to Anadolu Agency.
The parties that make up the government have 64 Knesset seats, without clarifying the reason for the absence of that member, while two of the opposition were also absent for unknown reasons.
This is the sixth government headed by Netanyahu, which was sworn in immediately before the Knesset.
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Netanyahu succeeds centrist Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, who became opposition leader.
Immediately after the vote, Netanyahu took the oath first, and then the 28 members of his government, before the Knesset.
Netanyahu sat on the prime minister’s seat in the Knesset, but former prime minister Yair Lapid left before shaking Netanyahu’s hand.
The former prime minister usually shakes hands with the new prime minister as soon as he takes the legal oath after obtaining the confidence of the Knesset.
No explanation was issued from Lapid as to why he left the Knesset hall before shaking hands with Netanyahu.
Likud MK Gila Gamliel is set to join the government on Monday as intelligence affairs minister.
Netanyahu decided at the last minute, Thursday, to include her in the government.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu will preside over the first cabinet session on Thursday evening.
The elections that took place on November 1 were the fifth in less than 4 years.
In a series of statements he made in recent days, Netanyahu expressed his hope that his government would continue for a full term of 4 years.
The government consists of 6 right-wing parties: “Likud”, “Shas”, “United Torah Judaism”, “Noam”, “Religious Zionism” and “Jewish Power”.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that this government is the most right-wing in the history of Israel.
The government discussion session, which lasted several hours, witnessed an exchange of accusations between the Netanyahu camp and the opposition camp.