JERUSALEM. The expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank set as a priority his government, which is sworn in today, Benjamin Netanyahuto legalize dozens of such settlements and join them to their state Israel.

The policy agreement between Likud and the small, hard-line parties that make up the new ruling coalition also includes anti-LGBTI rights rhetoric, controversial legislative reforms, and generous government subsidies for Orthodox Jews who would rather study the Talmud than speak out. labor market. These policy commitments by Netanyahu will reassure his government partners, but threaten to put the prime minister on a collision course with much of Israeli society, as well as Israel’s traditional Western allies.

The program agreement was drafted by a committee to “develop settlements throughout the land of Israel, including Judea and Samaria”, according to the text, using biblical terminology for the occupied West Bank. The international community has declared Jewish settlements illegal, and the White House has warned the new Netanyahu government against initiatives that could escalate tensions.

Earlier this month, heads of Jewish organizations in the US met with Israeli officials to express concern about the racist and extremist views of many future ministers in Netanyahu’s government. The extreme views of Netanyahu’s allies threaten to dissuade many American Jews from wholeheartedly supporting Israel.

The program agreement between Likud and the Religious Zionist Coalition also includes a commitment to annex the entire West Bank “after careful timing and after the national and international interests of the State of Israel are taken into account.” However, such a move would make Israel an international pariah and justify those who compare Israel’s policies in the West Bank with those of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Gvir in favor

Plans to expand Jewish settlements that the international community has called illegal.

The deal primarily benefits far-right MP and, to date, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to the portfolio, Ben-Gvir is responsible for police operations in the occupied territories.

The ruling coalition plans to dramatically increase Israeli funding for settlement construction in the Palestinian city of Hebron, where several dozen Orthodox Jews live in fortified buildings in the city center. True to the teachings of the slain far-right racist Rabbi Meir Kahane, Ben-Gvir’s party is seeking to amend anti-discrimination laws to allow private businesses to turn away customers because of their religion, among other things. Earlier this week, members of Ben Gvir’s party caused an uproar when they unveiled plans to use changes in the law to force shopkeepers to refuse to serve gays.

Bezalel Smotrich, head of the extremist religious party in the coalition, will take over the government’s settlement policy. In an article published Sunday in the American press, Smotrich vowed not to seek West Bank annexation, abandoning his party’s initial maximalist demands. Smotrich, who also owns a financial portfolio, is expected to generously subsidize the settlers.

Netanyahu is now planning to introduce an amendment from the very first Knesset that would allow Parliament to overturn Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority vote. “Bibi” is trying in this way to get rid of accusations against him of corruption and abuse of power.

Two ministers, Ari Deri and Ben-Gvir, were convicted by Israeli justice. The first for tax evasion and the second for racist statements.