The Firm Hand of Experienced Administration Back in Israel

"[We will set up a government that will] look after all the citizens of Israel, without exception, because the state is all of ours." 

"We'll restore security, we'll cut the cost of living, we'll widen the circle of peace even further, we'll restore Israel as a rising power among the nations."

"I will establish a nationalist government that will see to all Israeli citizens without any exceptions."

"[I shall form a] stable national government [to act responsibly avoid] unnecessary adventures [and] expand the circle of peace."

"[The people] want a Jewish state. A state that respects its citizens, but this is a Jewish state, our national state, that we dreamed of and fought for, and spilled seas of tears and blood to achieve."

Newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu addresses supporters at the party’s campaign headquarters in Jerusalem early on November 2, 2022, with his wife Sara at his side. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

"We want to make a total separation between those who are loyal to the state of Israel -- and we don't have any problem with them -- and those who undermine our dear country."

"[I will work on behalf of -- in an anticipated ministry appointment] everyone, including those who detest me.”

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Religious Zionism party 

The sweep of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, gaining 64 seats for a clear majority does not exclude the need for him to make accommodation with other winning parties for a ruling coalition. His choices are limited by necessity to other parties in the realm of considered right-wing ideology, among them Orthodox religious parties who tend to be right-wing in the sense of stout nationalism. A fact that makes some of Israel's strongest allies rather nervous.

 

Israel's most recent flirtation with its vocal left-wing factional parties gave ample \proof to the majority of Israeli voters that a less concessional, more assertive hand was required in dealing with Israel's opponents in the Arab world, most particularly its Palestinian neighbours, but hugely inclusive of Iran and its satellites: Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. By extension and seriously endangering the Jewish state, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon with their more sophisticated rocketry stockpiles.

 

Israelis, living through more recent months of a serious uptick in attacks by Palestinians, through deadly knifings, car-rammings, shooting, rioting and rock-throwing, snipers and rockets have experienced unnerving times. The rhetoric that continues to damn Israel from the mouths of the Palestinian Authority which continues to incite violence against Jews and defiantly continues its 'pay-for-slay' program, extolling the virtues of killing Jews and paying handsomely for those acts proves there is no 'partner-for-peace' in that arena.

 

The fifth election in less than four years, controversial but determinizing, delivered a clear message; conciliatory overtures to Israel's legions of enemies hasn't worked, and will not work in a geographic region where civility is viewed as weakness and respect goes to those who demonstrate the strength of a firm authoritative response to violence. Israel's military has its role in maintaining security as does its internal and external intelligence and policing agencies.

 

In the shadow of the Religious Zionism party, third in seats in the new Knesset, its leader is known to chant "Death to terrorism", an alumnus of the old (Jewish Defence League) Kach Party, now outlawed in Israel. Its leader, ben Gvir, calls for a tougher reaction against Palestinians who respond to the PA's incitement to violence, and to Palestinian Israelis who choose, despite their Israeli citizenship, to mount attacks on the military and on Jewish Israelis.

 

And nor have many Palestinian Isrraelis, democratically voted into office as Members of the Knesset, proven themselves loyal to the nation of their citizenship, infamously supporting terrorist acts and Hamas terrorism against Israelis, some going so far as quietly collaborating with groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Their sympathies and actions in sharp contrast to the many Israeli Palestinians who serve in the military, join the judiciary, are appointed to elite medical service and are loyal to Israel.

 

While the Palestinian Authority speaks of Israeli 'racism' and 'extremism' it is a reality that Israel has absorbed as citizens over a million Palestinian Arabs, while the PA has pledged that not one single Jew can become a citizen of a nascent 'Palestine'. And while among the religious zealots in the settlements there are youth who harass and commit violence against their Palestinian neighbours they are outliers in Israeli culture, whereas Palestinians who murder Jews are celebrated martyrs.