‘No difference’: Palestinians participate in Israeli-led coalition | Stories by Benjamin Netanyahu

Many Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza have opposed the Israeli government’s reform, saying the next prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, could follow suit.

Naftali Bennett, a 49-year-old former West Bank official in Israel and Netanyahu’s former ally, will be the country’s new leader under the auspices of the alliance.

Opponents and century-old leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid and Bennett announced Wednesday night reached an agreement to form a new government to remove Netanyahu after 12 years as Prime Minister.

Bassem al-Salhi, a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said the elected Prime Minister was younger than Netanyahu.

“He will make sure that he expresses his views in government,” he said.

Bennett has been a strong supporter of other parts of the West Bank that Israel took over and joined in the 1967 war.

In recent days, however, Bennett seems to want to keep the status quo, and to reduce the situation for Palestinians.

“My point is to reduce the conflict. We will not end it. But wherever we can [improve conditions] – crossroads, quality of life, more business, more companies – we will. ”

‘We want a big change’

Hamas, the group that controls besieged Gaza, has said it has not made any difference as to who controls Israel.

“The Palestinian people have seen many Israeli governments throughout history, right, left, in the middle, as they call it. But all of them have been rude about the rights of our Palestinian people and all of them had bad ideas for development,” said spokesman Hazem Qassem.

Sami Abou Shehadeh, leader of the Palestinian Balad Party, told Al Jazeera from East Jerusalem that the issue was not “Netanyahu’s” personality but the ideology that Israel pursues.

“What we need is a big change in Israel’s attitude, not humanity. Things were not right in Netanyahu’s case, and as long as Israel insists on its principles, it will continue to get worse after Netanyahu. That is why we oppose this government. [new coalition]. ”

Former PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi said Netanyahu’s years were still marked by “racism, oppression, violence and lawlessness”.

“His former teammates should preserve his reputation,” he tweeted.

The end of Netanyahu’s era continues to be rooted in insanity, violence, violence & lawlessness + escalation, increase & lawlessness. Those who supported him retained his heritage. It has a diminished power to challenge & change the legacy https://t.co/v2NhpSWQzX

– Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) June 2, 2021

The same idea was expressed elsewhere.

“There is no difference between one Israeli leader and another,” Ahmed Rezik, 29, a civil servant in Gaza, told Reuters.

“Good or bad for their nation. When it comes to us, they are all bad, and they all refuse to give Palestine their rights and their place.”

The coalition won the March 23 by-elections when Netanyahu’s Likanya party and its allies did not win a majority in parliament. It was Israel’s fourth election in two years.

The ruling party consists of small and medium-sized patches of political parties

The treaty also includes the United Arab List, which would form the first Palestinian state to form the ruling party in Israel.

The leader of the United Arab List List Mansour Abbas has stepped aside from Bennett, and said he hopes to make amends for Palestinian citizens who complain of apartheid and government neglect.

“We decided to go to the government to change the political system in the country,” the 47-year-old said in a message to his supporters after signing the agreement.

Abbas said the agreement also includes funding of more than $ 53 billion to finance infrastructure and reduce violence.

It also includes the cold demolition of illegally constructed houses in Palestinian villages and the possibility of settling in Bedouin towns in the Negev desert, a safe haven, the party said.

But he has been criticized in the West Bank and in Gaza for following what he sees as an enemy.

“What will he do if he is asked to vote for a new war in Gaza?” Badri Karam, 21, said in Gaza.

“Would they agree, being involved in the killing of the Palestinian people?”