Palestinian Official Says Israel’s New Government Is 'One of War'

A senior Palestinian official today blasted Israel's new government as one of war, killing, and settlement expansion after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handed over key ministerial positions to the hawkish far-right Jewish Home party in a coalition formed late on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Thursday, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the new government "not a partner for peace" and said that the late-night deal between Netanyahu and Jewish Home's leader Naftalie Bennett revealed Israel's racist and discriminatory face.

Erekat told AFP that the government "will be one of war which will be against peace and stability in our region."

Negotiations to form a coalition were completed late Wednesday night after seven-weeks of wrangling with less than two hours until a midnight deadline left on the clock.

In order to secure the allegiance of Jewish Home to the new government, which has a knife-edge majority of just 61 out of 120 seats, Netanyahu eventually conceded the Justice Ministry post to the pro-settlement rival party.

Ayelet Shaked, who is renowned for her hawkish stance on the Palestinian conflict, is expected to take the coveted justice minister position, while hardliner Bennett will take the education ministry.

The deal secured by Jewish Home also includes an agreement that a so-called NGO bill will be brought before the parliament. If brought into law the legislation will require NGOs with funding from foreign states to seek approval from the foreign and defense ministries — a move that will likely affect leftist organizations disproportionately.

The party will also name a deputy defense minister from its ranks.

Speaking to VICE News, Dr. Gayil Tashir, a professor of political science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said that the government was "the most right-wing ever" in Israel. "There are extremists in positions that decide about the future of country as one of war or peace," she added.

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The coalition will likely receive a frosty reception in the international arena, where pressure has grown on Israel. Relations between the US and Netanyahu plummeted to an all-time low during the prime minister's election campaign after he disavowed a two-state solution and vowed to expand Jewish settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem.

In an apparent bid to allay fears, Bennett said on Wednesday that the new government was "not for people on the right, or the left or the center, but for all the people of Israel."

Just hours later on Thursday morning, however, Israel reportedly gave the green light to begin building a further 900 homes in Ramat Shlomo, a settlement neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Speaking on Army Radio, Likud MK Miki Zohar said he expected the government to push forward with Jewish building in the occupied territories.

The Interior Ministry said the project was approved years ago but had been held up on a technicality that required the completion of a road junction.

Follow Harriet Salem on Twitter: @HarrietSalem