From Israel: New Government Sworn in Despite Likud Discontent

Following a months-long election campaign followed by weeks of coalition haggling and a last minute surge of horse trading with his own Likud MKs, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a ceremony just before midnight Thursday to swear in the new government, along with 19 other ministers. No. 2 on the Likud list, MK Gilad Erdan, followed through on his threat to not enter the government because he did not receive the cabinet position he wanted, while several other Likud MKs expressed their own dissatisfaction with the final alignment of positions, but in the end, reluctantly accepted them. Following the ordeal, Netanyahu gave a short speech before the Knesset plenum in which he frankly declared the need to reform the system because it “encourages exaggerated demands by parties and individuals.” Read More