Far-Right Government Launches in Israel... Becoming a 'Hot Button' Amid New Cold War?

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As Israel's most hardline right-wing government in history officially takes office, its alliance with the United States is being put to the test. The ultra-conservative right-wing coalition allied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secured key positions in the new government and is prioritizing settlement expansion and judicial reform as major policies, signaling potential upheaval in Middle East affairs involving Palestine and Iran. The stance of being willing to go to war with hostile Iran is expected to become a 'hot button' issue amid the new Cold War dynamics.

◇ 'Rise of the Far Right' New Government... A New Phase in Alliance Relations = On the 29th (local time), the New York Times (NYT) reported that with Netanyahu's return as prime minister in coalition with far-right forces, concerns are growing that Israel's liberal democracy and stability will be weakened, placing relations with allies such as the United States and Europe in a new phase.

Netanyahu, seemingly aware of these concerns, repeatedly emphasized tolerance and peace in his speech following the Knesset's approval of the coalition government. He stated, "We will prioritize ending conflicts with the Arab world, thwarting Iran's nuclear program, and strengthening Israel's military power." This effectively signals a hardline approach to the Palestinian and Iranian issues. The NYT reported that there is increasing worry that the Netanyahu government, dominated by far-right forces, will escalate tensions with Palestine, weaken judicial independence, and damage the democratic system.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.
Photo by UPI Yonhap News

Since its founding, Israel has been a long-standing ally of the United States, receiving military aid annually. However, after the Ukraine war, Israel has prioritized military interests with Russia, causing rifts in its relationship with the U.S. Particularly, Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party which holds the second-largest number of seats in the coalition and is considered a key figure in the new cabinet as Minister of National Security, is the most opposed to the U.S. 'two-state solution' (recognizing Palestine and Israel as independent states). Depending on his actions, it is expected that deterioration in U.S.-Israel relations will be unavoidable.

Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and a researcher at the Atlantic Council, a U.S. foreign policy and security think tank, pointed out, "It will be difficult for the U.S. and Israel to avoid friction regarding the Palestinian issue." The U.S., which has positioned Israeli-Palestinian coexistence as a core Middle East strategy, is likely to designate Ben-Gvir as a 'persona non grata' (diplomatically unwelcome person). Axios, a U.S. political media outlet, citing anonymous senior government sources, reported that "the U.S. government has expressed its intention to boycott cooperation with Ben-Gvir and other far-right figures." The policies proposed by the Netanyahu coalition, such as settlement expansion, permitting discrimination based on religious beliefs, and judicial reforms that undermine the balance between legislative and judicial powers, are sources of instability not only for Israel but also for the Middle East situation.

On the same day, U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement regarding the new government’s inauguration, said, "I look forward to working with my longtime friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, to jointly address the many challenges and opportunities facing Israel and the Middle East," but also added, "I will oppose policies that run counter to our mutual interests and values." This directly targets potential points of tension with the new government, including Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. The Times of Israel noted that Biden’s statement did not mention whether he would cooperate with far-right figures such as Ben-Gvir and his political partner Bezalel Smotrich. European allies are taking a wait-and-see approach. Christopher Burger, spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, responded to the new government’s inauguration by saying, "Bilateral relations with Israel remain unchanged."

Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran. (AP Yonhap News)

◇ Axis of Conflict with Hostile Iran... "Willing to Go to War" = Earlier, a senior Israeli official also stated that Israel is preparing for war with Iran. Benny Gantz, the outgoing Defense Minister with the new government’s inauguration, hinted at the possibility of attacks on Iran during his graduation speech at the Hatzor Airbase pilot course the day before. He said, "Israel has significantly strengthened its military readiness in recent years," suggesting potential strikes against Iran. He added, "Within 2 to 3 years, you may participate in attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities by flying across the eastern skies," and "some may have to infiltrate deep into Lebanese and Syrian territories or undertake missions to rescue Jews worldwide."

Given Netanyahu’s previous confrontational stance during his 2012 premiership against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, then president of Iran with conservative right-wing tendencies, there are concerns about a strong confrontation with the current president, Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi, known for his strong anti-American stance, has repeatedly made hardline remarks such as "Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.