Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s record-breaking 12-year tenure has eventually come to an end. This, after Israel’s parliament narrowly approved a new coalition government yesterday, which has ousted Netanyahu, sending the polarizing leader into the opposition. Be that as it may, the 71-year-old Netanyahu made it crystal clear he has no intention of leaving the political stage, and is expected to vigorously oppose the new government. Meantime, world leaders took turns lauding the new Prime Minister, and expressing their well-wishes.
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For the first time in 12 years, Israelis started their day afresh, with a new government sworn in.
It’s time to even out the playing field, now that Israel’s new coalition government has been sworn in, sending the polarizing Benjamin Netanyahu into the country’s anti-government groups.
Last night, the new government was narrowly approved by Israel’s parliament. The 60-59 vote made Netanyahu realize he would be ousted at a moment’s notice, marking the end of his 12-year tenure.
The vote, capping a stormy parliamentary session, ended a two-year cycle of political paralysis in which the country held four deadlocked elections. Those votes focused largely on Netanyahu’s divisive rule and his fitness to remain in office while still on trial for corruption charges.
To Netanyahu’s supporters, he is a global statesman capable of leading the country through its many security challenges.
But to his critics, he is seen as a polarizing and autocratic leader who used divide-and-rule tactics to exacerbate the predicament the Israeli society is currently in.
Hell-bent on healing a divided nation, Naftali Bennett will preside over a diverse and fragile coalition comprised of eight parties with deep ideological differences.
Outside the Knesset, hundreds of protesters watched the vote on a large TV screen. The vote elicited a round of applause when the new government was approved by parliament. Waving large Israeli flags, thousands of people were seen celebrating in central Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square.
After the vote, world leaders took turns lauding Naftali Bennett, with many of them expressing interest in building a better relationship with the new Israeli government.
Needless to say, U.S. President Joe Biden was one of them. Having spoken with Biden, Bennett thanked him for his warm wishes and long-standing commitment to the nation’s security. And Bennett is buoyed by the warm wishes, as the leaders agreed to consult closely on all matters related to regional security right away. Biden also expressed his interest in strengthening ties between the two countries.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Bennett and Lapid, the new Foreign Minister, on forming a new coalition government in a tweet.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his hope that the two countries could strive to deepen their strategic relations.
But the Hamas militant group is adamant Palestine will not reverse its decision to lock horns with Israel, and will not strive to rebuild a constructive relationship with the new Israeli government.
Despite being ousted, the 71-year-old Netanyahu made it crystal clear today he has no intention of leaving the political stage, and is expected to vigorously oppose the new coalition government.
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