Israel's Netanyahu says new government should annex occupied West Bank settlements

Unity government sworn in by parliament after three deadlocked elections

In this file photo taken on February 9, 2020 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel should annex occupied West Bank settlements, as his unity government was officially sworn in by parliament on Sunday.

Members of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, formally approved the three-year coalition government with 73 voting in favour and 46 against.

"It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism," Mr Netanyahu said.

"These territories are where the Jewish nation was born and grew. This measure won't distance us from peace, it will bring us closer."

Such a move was likely to cause international uproar and inflame tensions in the West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians and about 400,000 Israelis in settlements considered illegal under international law.

"The people wanted unity and that is what it got," Mr Netanyahu said.

In voting for the government, the Knesset avoided a fourth election after three inconclusive ballots since April 2019, and a national battle against the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Netanyahu next week begins a corruption trial that has threatened his reign as Israel's longest-serving premier.

Under his power-sharing agreement with his former election rival, centrist Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, Mr Netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing in the cases, will serve 18 months as prime minister then hand over to Mr Gantz.

At the weekend, the two announced their appointments for the new government, which is the most bloated in Israeli history, with an expected 36 ministers and 16 deputies.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz, a former military chief, announced last month they would be putting their differences aside to join forces to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and its severe economic fallout.

Their blocs will have a similar number of ministers and virtual veto power over the other's major decisions.

The deal has already led to the dissolution of Mr Gantz's Blue and White party after he reneged on his central campaign promise not to serve under Mr Netanyahu.

Their coalition could only come about after Israel's Supreme Court ruled it had no legal grounds to block it.