Knesset’s decision on the formation of new government in Israel is expected in hours. Bennet and Lapid’s coalition is the potential winner.
Netanyahu‘s 12-year reign will come to an end this weekend. Knesset’s session for the vote on choosing the new PM heralds a government that has promised to reconcile a nation torn apart by longest-serving leader in the country.
Netanyahu’s inability to form a government left the chance to the political rivals to form an unprecedented coalition of antagonist parties.
The potential fresh government, as anticipated to win the votes in Knesset on Sunday, owes its formation to the cooperation between the centrist Yair Lapid and ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett.
Hardliner Bennett, according to the arrangements serves as prime minister for the first half of the coming term. Former TV host Lapid succeeds him with another two years in power.
The two will lead a coalition power that includes parties from opposing political trends. For the first time in its 70-year history, a successful coalition government welcomed the presence of Arab citizens. Palestinian citizens inside Israel represent more than 20% of Israeli population.
The new government intend to focus on local improvements rather than making broad changes on contentious foreign topics.
Palestinians find no point in the change of leadership in Israel. They believe Bennett would most probably follow the same route as Netanyahu. They see no possibility of development toward settling the historic disputes.
The important Parliament session which started hours ago will see Lapid, Bennett and Netanyahu make a speech. The vote is expected afterwards.
Farewell
Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem has been the scene to massive celebrations by large groups of people. The place has been the centre of protest against the corrupted PM, as they claim, for the past few years. A large banner read “Bye-bye, Bibi, Bye-bye,” and the happy people sang songs while dancing.
Since 2009, Netanyahu won four successive terms in a row as Prime Minister. To this, his Premiership in the 1990s should be also added. Bibi has been an influential character in drawing the face of Israel in the past decade. Besides, neglecting his decisive role in domestic reforms would be a grave fallacy.
Netanyahu, adored by his ardent followers and despised by his opponents, polarized the political scene in Israel more than ever. His continuing corruption case has stretched the division even further.
Bibi’s critics have decried his aggressive language, shady political maneuvering, and subordination of national interests to his own political survival since long time ago. His adversaries called him “Crime Minister,” accusing him of disregarding the coronavirus outbreak and its financial implications.
On the other side, Netanyahu’s collapse is tough to swallow for his enormous and devoted supporter base. H is loyalists are angry regarding the country’s betrayal to a leader devoted to the nation’s sovereignty and a shield against global push for any measures that may lead to the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state.
These initiatives, and by no means his involvement in procuring COVID-19 vaccinations for the Israel’s milestone vaccination campaign, were not enough for him to take hold on power for another term.
A Failed Coalition?
Bennett has sparked outrage among right-wingers for breaching a campaign commitment by teaming up with Lapid.
“The greatest election fraud in the history,” Netanyahu described the new coalition. His party also believes the new coalition compromised the will of voters in the election.
Bennett ‘s expectable justification was that a new public vote, almost certainly on the way after government formation failure, would be disastrous for the country.
Iran, a tenuous peace with Palestinians, a war crimes investigation by the ICC, and economic crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak all comprise significant geopolitical, legal, and monetary hurdles for the new government.
