As Benjamin Netanyahu made his dramatic return as Israel’s prime minister for a sixth term, Yair Lapid left the plenary hall without shaking his successor’s hand as per the custom. After being sworn in, Netanyahu, who was interrupted by heckling, took the podium and chastized the Lapid-led opposition for lamenting “the end of democracy.”
“This new government is determined to restore governance, peace, and personal security to the citizens of Israel.”
“I hear the opposition eulogizing ‘the end of democracy.’ Members of the opposition, losing the elections is not the end of democracy – it is the essence of democracy,” he said.
“A democratic regime is tested first of all by the willingness of the losing side to accept the majority’s decision,” Netanyahu went on.
“In a functioning democracy, the rules of the game are respected."
Amir Cohen/Pool Photo