Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu Out As Prime Minister, 8 Parties Including Naftali Bennett's To Form New Govt

Israeli opposition parties have reached an agreement to form a new government that would end Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year tenure as prime minister. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, announced an eight-faction coalition had been formed. Under a rotation arrangement, the head of the right-wing Yamina party, Naftali Bennett, would serve as prime minister first before handing over to Lapid. There still needs to be a parliamentary vote before the government is sworn in. In a statement, Lapid said he had informed President Reuven Rivlin of the agreement. An image carried on Israeli media showed Lapid, Bennett & Arab Islamist Raam party leader, Mansour Abbas, signing the agreement, a deal many thought impossible. In his note to the president, Lapid said he would head the government alongside Bennett, who he would replace as prime minister on 27 August 2023. If the coalition fails to win the support of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, there is a risk of the country having to go to elections for the fifth time in two years. Netanyahu had called the proposed new government the "fraud of the century", saying it endangered the state and people of Israel.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2021 11:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).