Special Coverage

"Now the citizens of Israel expect you, all of us, to wake up every morning and look out for them," President Isaac Herzog says to the 120 new lawmakers after they take the oath of office.

The pro-Israel legal scholar spoke at a conference on the future of relations between the two countries. Israeli President Isaac Herzog told audience latest Thomas Friedman article does "grave injustice" to Israel.

Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu had hoped to inaugurate the next Cabinet concurrently, but coalition negotiations have hit an impasse.

Likud, the Religious Zionist Party, Shas and United Torah Judaism follow the script by recommending that the opposition leader be tapped to form the next government, leaving little doubt as to the outcome.

While the leaders of the right-wing bloc are all expected to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, the situation in the Center-Left camp is more complex.

"We don't understand what's going on with him," a senior member of the emerging coalition tells Israel Hayom after incoming prime minister seeks to swear in government without written promise to reform judiciary.

Washington also says it will "closely monitor the government formation process" as Netanyahu works on forming a coalition that will likely include religious and far-Right parties.

Asserting that he and liberals "agree on 90% of issues", the right-wing lawmaker said he would not seek to impose religious law nor curb freedom of dissent, "and even if I'm not keen on the (gay pride) parade, I will ensure utmost protection for the men and women marching".

Lapid, at memorial event for Yitzhak Rabin, appeared to take aim at Religious Zionist Party, whose leaders have made repeated anti-Arab, anti-LGBTQ comments.