Israeli inauguration as stormy as forecast

The swearing-in of Israel’s new government on June 13 was one of the most turbulent events in the Knesset's history. The ceremony was interrupted with jeers from the new opposition. It was somewhat to be expected, given the political chaos in Israel for the past two years. The historic coalition was formed to put an end to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long term in office. It achieved that one goal, but now it faces a complicated social and political reality that could bring it down like Netanyahu himself.

Usually a new coalition's balance of power and breakdown into blocs are clear, but not this time. The new government was approved by a single vote, with 60 Knesset members voting for and 59 voting against and one abstention. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the members of his change bloc will have to ensure that they have the majority needed for every single vote. With a bellicose opposition led by Netanyahu, it will be a Sisyphean task.

Yesterday played out like the denouement of a Shakespearean drama. Bennett, now 49 years old, was chief of staff to Netanyahu when he last served as head of the opposition. Netanyahu was his mentor. Bennett admired him so much that he named his eldest son Yoni after Netanyahu’s late brother who was killed in the Entebbe raid in 1976. Then Bennett took him out.

Many people now say that it was bold and patriotic of Bennett to break his promise to his right-wing electorate by forming a government with parties on the left and even an Arab Islamist one. But what is seen as an act of courage by those Israelis who longed to see Netanyahu gone, is seen as political betrayal by the other half of the country.