His power-sharing agreement with former election rival, centrist Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, opens the way for Netanyahu to proceed towards a pledged de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, land Palestinians seek for a state.
Seventy-two of the Knesset's 120 lawmakers signed on to Benjamin Netanyahu's candidacy after parliament passed legislation approving details of a power-sharing deal between the premier's Likud party and centrist rival Benny Gantz's Blue and White.