Netanyahu Takes Office as New Prime Minister in Israel

Israel’s parliament has sworn in Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister, inaugurating the country’s most far-right, religiously conservative government in history.

Netanyahu, 73, took the oath of office on Thursday, moments after Israel’s parliament, or Knesset, passed a vote of confidence in his new government. Of the parliament’s 120 members, 63 voted in favor of the new government, with 54 votes.

His swearing-in marks a personal return to power and the arrival of a government that has sparked fears among Palestinians as well as left-wing Israelis.

“The formation of this government is very much different from any of the other governments before. It is the most ultra-orthodox, ultra-Jewish, ultranationalist coalition,” Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat said from outside the parliament in West Jerusalem, where left-wing Israelis had gathered to protest.

But, Khairat added, Netanyahu was still focused on sending a domestic message to Israelis.

“He [Netanyahu] promises that he will bring down prices and help Israelis who are facing tough time economically,” she said.