Netanyahu: It took a lot of skill to put this coalition together

Netanyahu, who was seated between his new Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Silvan Shalom, walks to the microphone.

Barely has he opened his mouth, and there is an interruption. Edelstein: “There’ll be zero tolerance for this kind of thing.”

Netanyahu tries again. He begins by mourning Solodkin — a woman who listened to the voices of the less-privileged, a woman of integrity. All of us “were shocked” to learn of her premature death.

He thanks Israel’s citizens for charging him with running the country a third time. “Our existence here cannot be taken for granted… and our presence here is not accidental,” he declares.

He says his family is here today, and that his deceased relatives, including his fallen brother Yoni, are with him in spirit, as are all the past generations who sought the return to Zion, and those who died in the cause. Our goal is to ensure the future of the Jewish people by ensuring the future of the State of Israel — “the root of our existence.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset plenum Monday (photo credit: Knesset Channel)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset plenum Monday (photo credit: Knesset Channel)

Israel’s people expect that we will give them back a country in better shape than the one we received, he says.

Over the past four years, the last government negotiated a global economic crisis and regional destabilization — crises that are ongoing.

He cites achievements including building the Egypt border fence and returning hostage soldier Gilad Shalit. The country is in better shape than it was four years ago. And crucial to its successes were the cooperation in the government and in the Knesset. “I hope and expect” the same spirit of cooperation, he says. “Our government will serve all the people of Israel… and represent everyone.”

Lots of skill was required to put the coalition “cube” together, he says, and Yair Lapid smiles at him.

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