Likud party announced it had signed agreement with Jewish ultra-Orthodox Shas party . Agreement gives Netanyahu control of 64 of the Knessets 120 seats .
Jerusalem, Jan. 1, 2012 — Israel's new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a parliamentary majority on Thursday after his Likud party announced it had signed an agreement with the Jewish ultra-Orthodox Shas party, a victory that Israel's fifth in less than four years.Netanyahu said in a statement that his alliance with far-right parties has sparked alarm at home and abroad.The agreement with Shas gives Netanyahu control of 64 of the Knessets' 120 seats, though a final coalition deal has yet to be reached.Throughout Netanyahu's term, Deri, a veteran politician, was found guilty of tax fraud last year, but was freed from prison by way of a plea deal.The Knesset would have to pass legislation to allow him to return to the cabinet as a member.