Israeli deputies today called for legislative elections, the fifth in less than four years, after dissolving parliament and appointing the hitherto Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, as interim head of government.
The dissolution was approved by 92 votes in favor and none against, out of a total of 120 seats. Before the vote, Israeli deputies set November 1 as the date for the next legislative elections.
This dissolution ends a year of brief rule by outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who led a coalition of eight parties (right, left, center), which included Israeli Arab politicians for the first time, something historic in the country.
Its main objective was to put an end to 12 uninterrupted years of power by the right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu, but also to form an executive, which was impossible after the three previous and close elections.
Hours before the dissolution of parliament – initially scheduled last night and then postponed for this morning due to delays in other votes – Bennet announced that he will not be a candidate in the next elections, and will hand over the post of prime minister to Lapid at zero o’clock tomorrow, reported the AFP news agency.
The coalition agreement included a change in power and a clause that established that Lapid would be interim prime minister until the formation of a new government in the event of the dissolution of parliament.
A year after this historic agreement was signed, the coalition lost its majority in the chamber and Bennett announced last week his intention to dissolve it to call new elections
On June 6, the opposition inflicted a setback on the Bennett-Lapid coalition, rallying a majority against renewing a “settlers bill,” a provision that the House has to pass every five years.
This law had to be renewed before June 30, because otherwise the settlers of the West Bank – Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 – ran the risk of losing their legal protection under Israeli law.
Bennett, a fervent defender of these colonies, illegal under international law, could not run the risk of entering a chaotic situation and preferred to put an end to his government.
“What we need now is to return to the concept of Israeli unity and not let the shadow forces divide us,” Lapid said last week.
This ex-journalist will occupy both that position and that of Foreign Minister, while mobilizing his forces for the elections.
In mid-July, he will receive US President Joe Biden in Israel on his first visit to the Middle East since his arrival at the White House.
Domestically, he must keep his eyes and attention on Netanyahu, the 72-year-old head of the opposition and Likud party, tried for corruption in a series of cases, and who fervently wants to return to his former post of first Minister.
“The (coalition) experience has failed,” Netanyahu declared today. “That’s what happens when you join a false extreme right with the radical left, all mixed with the Muslim Brotherhood (…)”, added the former head of government in reference to Raam, the Islamist party that defends the interests of the Israeli Arab community.
“Will we have another Lapid government that will be a failure or a right-wing government led by us? We are the only alternative! A strong, nationalist and responsible government,” Netanyahu assured, launching his next election campaign ahead of time.
We would love to give thanks to the author of this write-up for this incredible material
Israel dissolved Parliament and called for new elections in November.