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Israel's new PM Naftali Bennett promises to unite nation | Israel's new PM Naftali Bennett promises to unite nation |
(5 months later) | |
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"We hope it's the beginning of a new Israel": Many Israelis celebrate the new coalition government | "We hope it's the beginning of a new Israel": Many Israelis celebrate the new coalition government |
Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has promised to unite a nation frayed by years of political stalemate. | Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has promised to unite a nation frayed by years of political stalemate. |
He said his government would "work for the sake of all the people", adding that the priorities would be reforms in education, health and cutting red tape. | He said his government would "work for the sake of all the people", adding that the priorities would be reforms in education, health and cutting red tape. |
The right-wing nationalist will lead an unprecedented coalition of parties that won a confidence vote by a razor-thin margin of just one seat on Sunday. | The right-wing nationalist will lead an unprecedented coalition of parties that won a confidence vote by a razor-thin margin of just one seat on Sunday. |
He succeeds Benjamin Netanyahu, who was forced out of office after 12 years. | He succeeds Benjamin Netanyahu, who was forced out of office after 12 years. |
Mr Bennett, the leader of Yamina party, will be prime minister until September 2023 as part of a power-sharing deal. | Mr Bennett, the leader of Yamina party, will be prime minister until September 2023 as part of a power-sharing deal. |
He will then hand power over to Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, for a further two years. | He will then hand power over to Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, for a further two years. |
Mr Netanyahu - Israel's longest-serving prime minister - will remain head of the right-wing Likud party and become leader of the opposition. | Mr Netanyahu - Israel's longest-serving prime minister - will remain head of the right-wing Likud party and become leader of the opposition. |
Netanyahu: A shrewd leader who reshaped Israel | Netanyahu: A shrewd leader who reshaped Israel |
The rise of Naftali Bennett, Israel's new PM | The rise of Naftali Bennett, Israel's new PM |
During Sunday's debate in the Knesset (parliament) in Jerusalem, a defiant Mr Netanyahu promised: "We'll be back." | During Sunday's debate in the Knesset (parliament) in Jerusalem, a defiant Mr Netanyahu promised: "We'll be back." |
The new coalition was approved by 60 votes to 59, with one abstention. | The new coalition was approved by 60 votes to 59, with one abstention. |
After the vote, Mr Netanyahu walked over to Mr Bennett and shook his hand. | After the vote, Mr Netanyahu walked over to Mr Bennett and shook his hand. |
In his speech, Mr Bennett, 49, said: "This is not a day of mourning. There is a change of government in a democracy. That's it. | In his speech, Mr Bennett, 49, said: "This is not a day of mourning. There is a change of government in a democracy. That's it. |
"We will do all we can so that no-one should have to feel afraid... And I say to those who intend to celebrate tonight, don't dance on the pain of others. We are not enemies; we are one people." | "We will do all we can so that no-one should have to feel afraid... And I say to those who intend to celebrate tonight, don't dance on the pain of others. We are not enemies; we are one people." |
Naftali Bennett (right) ended Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure in office | Naftali Bennett (right) ended Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure in office |
Representatives of the Palestinians have reacted dismissively to Israel's new government. | Representatives of the Palestinians have reacted dismissively to Israel's new government. |
"This is an internal Israeli affair. Our position has always been clear, what we want is a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said. | "This is an internal Israeli affair. Our position has always been clear, what we want is a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said. |
"It is an occupation and a colonial entity, which we should resist by force to get our rights back," said a spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza. | "It is an occupation and a colonial entity, which we should resist by force to get our rights back," said a spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza. |
US President Joe Biden sent his congratulations to Mr Bennett, saying he looked forward to strengthening the "close and enduring" bilateral relationship. | US President Joe Biden sent his congratulations to Mr Bennett, saying he looked forward to strengthening the "close and enduring" bilateral relationship. |
Old habits die hard. | Old habits die hard. |
After the confidence vote was announced, Benjamin Netanyahu went and sat back in the prime minister's chair in the Knesset chamber. | After the confidence vote was announced, Benjamin Netanyahu went and sat back in the prime minister's chair in the Knesset chamber. |
He had to be ushered to the opposition benches instead. | He had to be ushered to the opposition benches instead. |
It was a moment of political history - Mr Netanyahu literally unseated as Israel's longest serving leader. | It was a moment of political history - Mr Netanyahu literally unseated as Israel's longest serving leader. |
He's not going anywhere, for now at least. He'll stay in that opposition chair and try to unpick, pull apart and otherwise "overthrow" - as he puts it - the coalition of the first new prime minister in 12 years. | He's not going anywhere, for now at least. He'll stay in that opposition chair and try to unpick, pull apart and otherwise "overthrow" - as he puts it - the coalition of the first new prime minister in 12 years. |
This government is Israel's broadest ever - but that could also make it the most unstable. Naftali Bennett will have his work cut out just holding the parties together. | This government is Israel's broadest ever - but that could also make it the most unstable. Naftali Bennett will have his work cut out just holding the parties together. |
Why was it such a long battle? | Why was it such a long battle? |
Mr Netanyahu served five terms, first from 1996 to 1999, then continuously from 2009 to 2021. | Mr Netanyahu served five terms, first from 1996 to 1999, then continuously from 2009 to 2021. |
He called an election in April 2019 but failed to win enough support to form a new coalition government. Two more inconclusive elections followed. | He called an election in April 2019 but failed to win enough support to form a new coalition government. Two more inconclusive elections followed. |
After the third, he formed a government of national unity with then-opposition leader Benny Gantz, but the deal collapsed and Israel went back to the polls in March. | After the third, he formed a government of national unity with then-opposition leader Benny Gantz, but the deal collapsed and Israel went back to the polls in March. |
Likud emerged as the largest party, but after Mr Netanyahu was again unable to form a government, the task passed to Mr Lapid, whose party came second. | Likud emerged as the largest party, but after Mr Netanyahu was again unable to form a government, the task passed to Mr Lapid, whose party came second. |
There were street parties across Israel after the new government was voted in | There were street parties across Israel after the new government was voted in |
Opposition to Mr Netanyahu staying in power had grown, not just among the left and centre but also among right-wing parties that are ordinarily ideologically aligned to Likud, including Yamina. | Opposition to Mr Netanyahu staying in power had grown, not just among the left and centre but also among right-wing parties that are ordinarily ideologically aligned to Likud, including Yamina. |
Although Yamina came joint fifth in the election with only seven seats, its support was critical. After weeks of negotiations, Mr Lapid brought Yamina on board as part of a constellation of parties whose only common goal was to remove Mr Netanyahu from office. | Although Yamina came joint fifth in the election with only seven seats, its support was critical. After weeks of negotiations, Mr Lapid brought Yamina on board as part of a constellation of parties whose only common goal was to remove Mr Netanyahu from office. |
The agreement involving eight factions with the 61 seats required for a majority was signed on 2 June, just half an hour before a deadline was due to expire, effectively sealing Mr Netanyahu's fate. | The agreement involving eight factions with the 61 seats required for a majority was signed on 2 June, just half an hour before a deadline was due to expire, effectively sealing Mr Netanyahu's fate. |
How solid is the new coalition? | How solid is the new coalition? |
In appearance, Mr Bennett's government will be unlike any which has preceded it in Israel's 73-year history. | In appearance, Mr Bennett's government will be unlike any which has preceded it in Israel's 73-year history. |
The alliance contains parties which have vast ideological differences, and - perhaps most significantly - includes the first independent Arab party to be part of a potential ruling coalition, Raam. It also has a record number of nine female ministers. | The alliance contains parties which have vast ideological differences, and - perhaps most significantly - includes the first independent Arab party to be part of a potential ruling coalition, Raam. It also has a record number of nine female ministers. |
The inclusion of Raam and left-wing non-Arab Israeli parties means there could be friction on issues such as Israeli policies towards Palestinians - Yamina and another right-wing party, New Hope, are staunch supporters of Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for instance. | The inclusion of Raam and left-wing non-Arab Israeli parties means there could be friction on issues such as Israeli policies towards Palestinians - Yamina and another right-wing party, New Hope, are staunch supporters of Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for instance. |
There could also be difficulties over social policies - while some parties want to advance gay rights, such as recognising same-sex marriages, Raam, an Islamist party, is against this. | There could also be difficulties over social policies - while some parties want to advance gay rights, such as recognising same-sex marriages, Raam, an Islamist party, is against this. |
In addition, some parties want to relax religious restrictions more extensively than Yamina - a national-religious party - will likely allow. | In addition, some parties want to relax religious restrictions more extensively than Yamina - a national-religious party - will likely allow. |
The coalition Mr Bennett leads is an unlikely one that spans the entire political spectrum of Israeli politics | The coalition Mr Bennett leads is an unlikely one that spans the entire political spectrum of Israeli politics |
Mr Gantz, who heads the centre-right Blue and White party, will continue serving as defence minister in the new government. | Mr Gantz, who heads the centre-right Blue and White party, will continue serving as defence minister in the new government. |
Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the right-wing nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, will be finance minister, New Hope leader Gideon Saar will be justice minister, and Yamina's deputy leader Ayelet Shaked will be interior minister. | Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the right-wing nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, will be finance minister, New Hope leader Gideon Saar will be justice minister, and Yamina's deputy leader Ayelet Shaked will be interior minister. |
The leader of the left-wing Labour and Meretz parties, Merav Michaeli and Nitzan Horowitz, will be the ministers of transport and health respectively. | The leader of the left-wing Labour and Meretz parties, Merav Michaeli and Nitzan Horowitz, will be the ministers of transport and health respectively. |