Far-right calls on Netanyahu to form gov’t immediately in wake of Jerusalem attack

Leaders of Religious Zionism and Jewish Power parties have called on Benjamin Netanyahu to finish coalition negotiations and form a government “as soon as possible,” after a twin bombing attack left one killed and 22 wounded in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning. 

“Terror needs to pay a very, very, very high price. We have to form a government as soon as possible; terror doesn’t wait,” Ben-Gvir said when he visited the scene of one of the attacks at the entrance to Jerusalem.

The Jewish Power party leader also said Israel needs to “bring back targeted assassinations,” and “enact a lockdown and go house to house” to find the terrorist behind the attack.

“Policy needs to change,” he added.

Meanwhile Religious Zionism Party leader Betzalel Smotrich called on Netanyahu to “convene all leaders of the incoming coalition, so we can form a right-wing government that will restore security to the citizens of Israel. The murderous Arab terror is knocking on our door; we must form a government immediately!”

Coalition talks hit a dead end on Tuesday, with Ben-Gvir threatening not to join the government at all if his party didn’t receive the Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee.

“We must invest (in the periphery) and without our ability to make good on our promises, we simply will not enter the government,” Ben-Gvir, who has demanded to be named Public Security Minister, said.

Smotrich also accused Netanyahu on walking back promises to his party, which according to Israeli media revolved around the far-right leader demanding that his party get either the Education or Immigration Ministries as well as control over Defence Ministry departments that oversee West Bank settlements.

Likud fired back at Smotrich, saying it did not agree to “comply with new demands set by Smotrich after our offer was accepted, including the removal of a long list of departments from various ministries in order to transfer them to the Finance Ministry.”

Smotrich has reportedly agreed to give up his demand to be named Defence Minister in return for the Finance Ministry portfolio.

Shas leader Ariyeh Dery seems to be the big winner on the coalition talks, reportedly receiving his old position as Interior Minister, which would be combined with the Transportation Ministry in a “super ministry”.

According to the reports, Dery will also be named Vice-Prime Minister while his party receives the Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee, Health Ministry and the Diaspora Affairs Ministry.

United Torah Judaism is expected to receive the Housing Ministry, Jerusalem Affairs Ministry and chairmanship of the Knesset’s Finance Committee.

Likud, meanwhile, is fighting to keep the senior ministries, namely justice, foreign and defence.