Fears of right-wing ‘dark tunnel’ as Netanyahu makes return to power in Israel

ISRAEL’S president has officially asked former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government, ushering the longserving former leader back to power after a year’s hiatus.

With Mr Netanyahu comes what is expected to be Israel’s most rightwing coalition ever. Elections earlier this month indicated a clear win for Mr Netanyahu and his ultraorthodox and ultra-nationalist allies and ended the short-lived, ideologically diverse government that had ousted him last year after 12 consecutive years in power.

Though political horse-trading began as soon as the election results were firmed up, yesterday’s development means Mr Netanyahu now has up to six weeks to conclude negotiations and cobble together a government.

He struck a conciliatory tone at the Jerusalem event where Israel’s ceremonial president Isaac Herzog bestowed upon him the task of forming a government.

Mr Netanyahu played down concerns by Israeli liberals and some of the country’s international allies that Israel is “entering a dark tunnel”.

“We will do everything to make this, with God’s help, a stable government, that will work for the benefit of all residents of the state of Israel, without exception,” he said.

Key portfolios, including finance and defence ministries, could prove a sticking point and Mr Netanyahu’s partners could seek to drag out talks to achieve their aims.

Mr Netanyahu returns to power after five elections in less than four years that were all essentially a referendum on his fitness to serve while on trial for corruption.