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Israel's new gov't sworn-in amid haggling within ruling Likud

Xinhua, May 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing new coalition government was sworn in late Thursday night, after the parliament approved it by a razor-thin 61-59 majority.

The swearing-in ceremony of Israel's 34th government was delayed by some two hours due to last-minute disagreements over ministerial appointments.

Introducing his fourth government, Netanyahu promised he will "strive for peace, develop the economy and narrow economic gaps," and was met with loud heckles and jeers from opposition benches.

Mocking Netanyahu, opposition leader Isaac Herzog, leader of the Labor party, sworn he will join Netanyahu's "circus" coalition.

"This is a government without vision, without a working plan, without hope," Herzog said when he took the podium after Netanyahu."

The slim 61-member coalition, within Israel's 120-seat parliament, is composed mostly of right-wing and Jewish ultra-Orthodox factions.

Tzipi Hotovely, a Likud lawmaker who called to annex the Palestinian West Bank, will serve as deputy foreign minister, with Netanyahu keeping the portfolio to himself. Moshe Ya'alon of Likud will keep his position as defense minister.

Naftali Bennett, the chairperson of the pro-settlement Jewish Home, was appointed minister of education. Ayelet Shaked, a hawkish politician of Jewish Home, who attempted to advance legislation criticized as anti-democratic, will serve as the justice minister.

Centrist, economic-focused Moshe Kahlon, leader of the Kulanu faction, was appointed minister of finance. Three ministerial posts, including the economy ministry portfolio, are held by the religious Shas party.

Netanyahu struggled for 42 days to forge a coalition after his rightwing Likud party won the March 17 elections, garnering 30 seats.

Last week, less than two hours before a deadline, he managed to piece together a slim coalition, showing strong presence of pro-settlement hardliners and ultra-Orthodox.

Around midnight, right after the swearing-in ceremony, the government held its first meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, according to a statement by Netanyahu's office. Endit