Netanyahu's large Cabinet sworn in today in Israel

by Amy Judd | March 31, 2009 at 06:43 pm

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Benjamin Netanyahu's large Cabinet was sworn in today in Israel, however there are signs already that the political road may be a bit rocky. He took office today amid some heckles, while Arab lawmakers sought to find a more 'permanent arrangement' for limited Palestinian self-rule.

"We do not wish to rule another people," the conservative leader declared in a speech to the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Without endorsing the goal of sovereignty for the Palestinians, he said he favored an accord giving them "all the powers necessary to rule themselves, except those that would threaten Israel's existence and security."

The Obama administration has said that they want negotiations to continue to create an independent Palestinian state, and Netanyahu taking office for a second time could be seen as a move to support this statement.
Netanyahu said:

"today more than ever strives to reach full peace with the entire Arab and Muslim world." He added: "That yearning is supported by a joint interest of Israel and the Arab states against the fanatical obstacle" of terrorism.

Mahmoud Abbas responded with:

"This man doesn't believe in peace, so how can we deal with him?"

Netanyahu has 38 Cabinet members that were all sworn in with him and his address about domestic matters received many heckles from the crowd, especially when he spoke of Israel's education.

"This was the result of your doing," declared Shelly Yacimovich, a lawmaker from the left-leaning Labor Party, interrupting him. As finance minister early in this decade, she said, Netanyahu cut education budgets, "and you'll cut them again."

This is the biggest Cabinet in Israel's history and even the Cabinet table had to be extended.
The heckles are seen by many as just a prelude of what is to come.

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