Jerusalem--Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began talks Thursday to form a new Israeli government, which will have to mend shattered ties with Washington, while tackling pressing social and security issues.
After a bitterly fought campaign that exposed deep splits within Israeli society and a damaging rift with key ally Washington, Netanyahu knuckled down to the unenviable task of building a coalition likely to be dominated by right-wing and religious parties.
By mid-morning, disputes were already emerging over the allocation of key portfolios and positions of prestige, in an indicator of likely problems in piecing together an operational government.
The new coalition will have to hit the ground running in order to shore up shattered ties with the administration of US President Barack Obama and address the divisions within Israeli society.
It will also have to handle an emerging nuclear deal with Iran, which has been vehemently opposed by Netanyahu, as well as the imminent threat of Palestinian legal action at the International Criminal Court early next month.
As he formally accepted the task of building a government late Wednesday, Netanyahu pledged that Israel would hold out a "hand of peace" to the Palestinians and would make sure to patch up US ties, while continuing to fight against the Iran deal sought by Washington.
But after a dirty campaign of inflammatory slogans and statements, people both at home and abroad will be looking for actions not words.
Netanyahu himself was at the centre of most of the controversy after he ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state if reelected, pledged to build more settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem and played the race card at the expense of Israel's Arab minority.
AFP
