Netanyahu secures a parliamentary majority close to forming his controversial government
The Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu secured a parliamentary majority on Thursday after his Likud party announced it had reached a deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.
Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance scored a comfortable victory in the November 1 election, the fifth held in Israel in less than four years.
His partnership with far-right parties has caused concern at home and abroad.
“We’ve taken another step towards the formation of a right-wing government that will serve all the citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The agreement with Shas gives Netanyahu control of 64 of the 120 Knesset seats, but a final agreement to form a coalition has yet to be signed.
The agreement stipulates that the leader of the Shas party, Aryeh Deri, will take over the ministries of interior and health during the first half of the government’s term, and then the Ministry of Finance in the second half.
He will also serve as deputy prime minister throughout Netanyahu’s term.
Deri, a veteran politician, was convicted of tax fraud last year but escaped prison under a plea agreement.
The Knesset will have to pass legislation allowing him to return to government.
