The Israeli election will put former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu back at the centre of political power.
| Israel’s weakened coalition government said on Monday it would dissolve parliament and call new elections, setting the stage for the possible return to power of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another period of prolonged political gridlock.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former ally and aide of Mr Netanyahu, formed his government a year ago with the aim of halting the never-ending cycle of elections.But the fragile coalition government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, lost its majority earlier this year and has faced rebellions from different lawmakers in recent weeks.
Standing together with Mr Bennett, he thanked his partner for his hard work and for putting the country ahead of his personal interests.“Even if we’re going to elections in a few months, our challenges as a state cannot wait,” Mr Lapid said. “What we need to do today is go back to the concept of Israeli unity. Not to let dark forces tear us apart from within.”
Under his watch, Israel’s tense border with the Gaza Strip remained largely quiet, though tensions with the Palestinians escalated in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. His Arab partner, the Islamic Ra’am party, secured unprecedented budgets to fight poverty, neglect and discrimination in Israel’s Arab sector.On the international stage, Mr Bennett repaired Israel’s bipartisan standing in Washington, which suffered after Mr Netanyahu’s close ties with former President Donald Trump.
Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, whipped up the opposition by accusing Mr Bennett of cooperating with “terror supporters” – a reference to his Arab partners in the coalition. A Netanyahu supporter was arrested last month on suspicion she sent death threats and bullets to Mr Bennett’s family in the post.
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