The leader of Israel's biggest Arab political party condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's new coalition government, which passed by the slimmest of majorities yesterday, as racist.
Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List, said that the five-party coalition, which includes two ultra-conservative Jewish parties and a right-wing party opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, constituted a disaster for Israeli Arabs.
Netanyahu only managed to secure a majority coalition two hours before last week's deadline. The new government was sworn in yesterday, two months after Netanyahu's election victory, after a vote on the new cabinet passed by a 61-59 vote on Wednesday.
The Joint List, a coalition of four Arab-majority parties which formed in January this year, won 14 seats in March's elections to make it the third largest party in the Israeli Knesset (parliament). In the city of Nazareth, the party won more than 92% of the votes.
Speaking after the new government was sworn in, Odeh said: "The black flag of racism flies over this government."
More than 1.7 million Arabs live in Israel, making up a fifth of the population. The population grew at a rate of 2.2% last year, outstripping the 1.7% growth rate of Israel's Jewish population.
In an interview with London-based Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, Odeh also said that the composition of the government signals "a future of blood and violence" for Arabs in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon.
Odeh and his party are likely to be shaken by the inclusion in the coalition of Jewish Home, who pledged their eight seats in support of Netanyahu in return for the post of justice minister, which has been given to rising star Ayelet Shaked.
Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett supports the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law, and has previously said Palestinians should forget about statehood.
He also suggested that Israel's response to the militant group Hamas in last year's conflict in Gaza was too soft. According to UN figures, 2,205 Palestinians and 71 Israelis were killed in the conflict.
The coalition government was also dismissed by Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, despite Netanyahu extending him an olive branch.
The prime minister wants to expand the government in order to increase his parliamentary majority and is reportedly saving the cabinet post of foreign minister for Herzog, should the opposition leader decide to form a broad national unity government with Netanyahu's Likud party.
Calling the newly-formed government "a circus", Herzog accused the prime minister of "creating a government at any price" in order to stay in power.
As well as Netanyahu's Likud and Jewish Home, another three parties form the governing coalition. Kulanu, which is led by former Likud politician Moshe Kahlon, contributes 10 seats, while a total of 13 are provided by United Torah Judaism and Shas, which are both ultra-Orthodox parties.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Conor is a staff writer for Newsweek covering Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, security and conflict.
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
