On Sunday, the long and divisive political reign of Benjamin Netanyahu came to an end after 12 years. An unlikely alliance of some eight political parties came together and succeeded in doing so as it gained the vote of confidence by the Israeli parliament.
The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament approved this new government by just a single vote of 60 to 59, with on absentee.
As soon as the results were announced, Bennet went over to shake hands with Mr. Netanyahu before walking to the rostrum at the front of the parliamentary chamber and taking the oath as the new prime minister.
If the current government is able to hold together for two years, Yair Lapid, a centrist leader, is set to take Mr. Bennett’s place after two years.
This eight-party alliance ranging from left to right, from secular to religious, that agrees on little but a desire to oust Mr. Netanyahu.
Netanyahu was the longest-serving leader in the country’s history. And Bennet was once his ally, who turned a rival later on.
“If it is destined for us to be in the opposition, we will do it with our backs straight until we topple this dangerous government and return to lead the country,” Netanyahu said.
In a speech made before the confidence vote, Mr. Bennett hailed his unlikely coalition as an essential antidote to an intractable stalemate.
“We stopped the train before the abyss,” Mr. Bennett said. “The time has come for different leaders, from all parts of the people, to stop, to stop this madness.”
However, the Palestinian representatives have reacted dismissively to this newly formed Government in Israel.
“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 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.
Meanwhile, the U.S. President congratulated the newly elected government in Israel.
“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Bennett to strengthen all aspects of the close and enduring relationship between our two nations,” he said in a statement. He said his administration is fully committed to working with the new government “to advance security, stability, and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and people throughout the broader region.”