Israel votes on new government as Netanyahu poised to lose power

Israel is set to vote in a new coalition government on Sunday, notably without Benjamin Netanyahu at the helm, and end a political crisis that has seen four general elections take place in two years.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s new government is set to be voted on by the Knesset, and if a majority – 61 votes or more – are given to the new coalition, Israel will have a new administration and for the first time in 12 years a new prime minister.

In last minute drama, Hebrew media Channel 12 report that a member of the Knesset from Mansour Abbas’s Israeli- Arab party is threatening not to vote for the new government, protesting the intention to demolish houses in the Negev.  However as long as there are no other last minute surprises the coalition is expected to receive a slim majority of votes.

If a majority passes, Naftali Bennett, the former Defence Minister and right wing leader of the Yamina party will take the first two year term followed by a second term by Yair Lapid, the centrist leader of party Yesh Atid.

Bennett and  Lapid will present the prospective government’s plans in the Knesset. Netanyahu, the prospective leader of the opposition,  is also expected to speak.

Coalition parties in the new government are expected to place domestic issues and the economic recovery post-Covid 19, above issues surrounding the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. 

Sources close to the coalition told The Independent this was due to “on the one hand the lack of a partner on the Palestinian side and the other significant disparity in approaches to the issues within the incoming coalition”.

Parliament will then vote on the new government after the range of speeches.

The new government is regarded as the widest political coalition in the history of Israel, incorporating the Israeli-Arab party Ra’am under Mansour Abbas, as well as seven other parties from left to right wing.

If voted in, the new government will head to the President’s residence for the traditional group photograph of ministers with outgoing President Reuven Rivlin, who will end his seven-year term on July 9.