Israel’s emergency government was formally established in a special Knesset plenum session on Thursday evening.
As part of the emergency government, National Unity MKs Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Gideon Sa’ar, Chili Tropper, and Yifat Shasha-Biton were sworn in as ministers after the Knesset approved the appointments.
After the vote, the new ministers were greeted with handshakes and hugs by the existing ministers after they were sworn in. The emergency government was finalized on Wednesday after days of negotiations.
“The unity we’re building today sends a message of great power,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We are all together.”
“I’m proud of our decision,” said Sa’ar. “We really are united and will work together because we are all brothers and sisters. In the face of this danger, should we not step up? Should we not unite? Should we continue the war of the Jews? Have we not learned our lesson from the past? Should we say without so and so?”
Lapid won't join, but will support
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who had called for an emergency government on Saturday, said his party would vote for the emergency government but wouldn’t join it.
“We aren’t joining because a structure is being formed that cannot work,” he said. “It will only add to the chaos. Instead of one cabinet, there will be two which are already in disagreement.
“In the small cabinet, Netanyahu has an automatic majority. Gantz and Eisenkot can give advice. Netanyahu won’t listen.
“The big and non-productive cabinet was expanded even more. They’ve added five ministers with no ministries. There’s no way to make decisions or manage a war in a cabinet like that.”
Israel Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman had also said he would join as long as Netanyahu publicly announced the total destruction of Hamas. Despite multiple such announcements by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, he had not done so by Thursday.