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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Wednesday that he would withdraw from political life and would not participate in the country’s next national elections. one year ago.
Bennett’s resignation statement sent the country to a fifth poll in less than four years, at least for now, just over a week after informing the public that he was unable to put together a vulnerable coalition. rice field. The election may take place in late October or early November.
In a poll conducted by Israeli television channel 12 news shortly after Benjamin’s announcement on Wednesday, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won at least 15 seats over its closest rival and was loyal to other right-wing factions and former leaders. It has been shown to have sufficient support from the faction. Form a government with a small majority.
In a short television statement from the Israeli parliament, Knesset Bennett said, “I have no intention of running for the upcoming elections, but I will continue to be a loyal soldier serving the country.”
ISRAELI PARLIAMENT’S COALITION CHAIR RESIGNS, OPENING DOOR TO NEW ELECTIONS, BIBI NETANYAHU COMEBACK
“The state of Israel is the love of my life,” Bennett, who took office a year ago, said he would lead a broad coalition of eight parties across the political spectrum, including the Arab-Israeli Party for the first time. .. Ultimately, it was an ideological clash that ended Bennett’s coalition last week.
The Israeli parliament is expected to dissolve on Thursday and be replaced by a provisional government led by Bennett’s coalition partner Yair Lapid.
Former journalist and media personality Rapid stands out from other Israeli prime ministers because he has no strong military background and has not graduated from high school. Unlike other Israeli Prime Ministers, Rapid was a correspondent for a military magazine during his compulsory military service, then became a newspaper reporter, eventually hosting nightly news, and more on Israeli television screens. I appeared regularly.
However, with the Israelis in the top office on their way to polls, Rapid, who has been Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for the past year, is in the best position to show off his political skills and confront him directly. Will stand. Main rival, Netanyahu.
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As interim prime minister, Rapid will meet with President Joe Biden on his first visit to Israel next month, and may also work with the White House to promote normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. .. The president will also visit during his trip to the Middle East.
Biden is also expected to meet Netanyahu, who officially leads the opposition in the Israeli parliament. The two leaders have a long but capricious relationship. When Biden visited Israel as Vice President in 2010, when Netanyahu was Prime Minister, the announcement of a new settlement in East Jerusalem created a crisis between the two leaders.
Since 2019, Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu, have been stable due to the fragmented nature of the country’s parliamentary system, which allows a large number of minor parties and requires the government to control a majority of seats. I’m having a hard time forming a coalition government. Bennett has struggled to maintain a coalition for the past three months after members of his own faction quit the ideological difference.
Critics said Bennett’s decision to make the election stand out was most likely to favor Netanyahu.
Former Media Advisor and Chief of Staff of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News Digital, “Benjamin’s withdrawal has already announced in a poll that has just announced that it will pave the way for Netanyahu. I’m watching. “
Channel 12 polls show that Netanyahu’s Likud party would have won about 35 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament if the elections took place today. Thirty-five people are not enough to form a government, but the culmination of other four to five parties that have remained loyal to Netanyahu, who served as prime minister for a total of 15 years, allows him to form a coalition.
“Mr. Bennett said he was going to spend some time out of politics, but it’s clear he was driven by it, and that’s not what he really wants to do,” Businsky added. “But to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government in the current parliament, he will remain in his position until the government dissolves.”