The failed attempts to stabilize Israel’s troubled governing alliance by Naftali Bennett, Israeli Prime Minister, and alternate PM Yair Lapid have been officially ended.
On Monday, they jointly announced that they would introduce a bill within seven days to dissolve Knesset. The Knesset had failed to extend or bypass the West Bank Emergency Bill which was vital for Israeli security. The measure allows Jewish settlers living in West Bank to enjoy the same benefits and face prosecution in Israeli courts, as well as being able to access the same legal rights. This is the first such vote by the government in 55-years.
Dissolving the Knesset automatically extends the bill’s protections until three months after the next government is formed.
Rather than potentially be forced out by opposition leader and former PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett and Lapid said they would prefer to “Leave the public feeling that the government is a success.” The decision had only been made “The attempts to stabilize and maintain the coalition failed.,” and while Bennett said it was “It is not an easy task,” he described it as “The right choice. We made the right decision..”
“Last Friday I realized that there would be chaos when the settlements laws expire. We couldn’t let that happen. We decided to run for office to stop that from happening.,” Bennett said. Two no-confidence motions were filed against the coalition earlier Monday.
Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar blamed “The coalition members are guilty of irresponsible behaviour” for the collapse of the government, arguing the next election should focus on keeping Netanyahu out of the seat of power lest he return to “To his benefit, he will mortgage the country.”
The opposition parties were open about their intention to vote against West Bank bill. They supported it ideologically, but they did so in an attempt to destroy the coalition. “We will do everything to topple this bad government,” Knesset member (MK) Keti Shitrit from Netanyahu’s Likud party told World Israel News.
Even the PMs’ allies grew restive under their problematic leadership, with MK Nir Orbach of Bennett’s New Right party leaving the coalition last week because the “Settlements law” had not been renewed.
Lapid, who will remain as the foreign minister after the Knesset has been disbanded, will assume the interim PM role in the transitional government. Next election will be on October 25, according to all indications.
News was good for the opposition. “Bennett, Lapid – you did the right thing a year late. Likud soon to lead government,” MK Yoav Galant gloated. A statement released by the Likud party doubled down, telling Bennett to “Get home. It’s over. It’s time to return Israel to the Right.”
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In a video posted to Twitter, Netanyahu – who spent 12 years in office after an earlier three-year term, making him the longest-serving PM in Israeli history – dismissed the current government as one that was “Dependent on terrorist supporters, which neglected Israel’s citizens security and raised living costs to new levels.”
He gloated over the government’s downfall, calling it “The worst government ever to be elected in Israel’s history” and pledging that the next – which he presumes would be led by him – would be “Both nationalists and all.”
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