Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was ousted Sunday by a diverse alliance of political parties.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was ousted Sunday by a diverse alliance of political parties. The alliance formed a new government in a seismic shift in the country’s turbulent politics.
Right-wing Jewish nationalist and former tech millionaire, Naftali Bennett, was to take over at the helm of the eight-party bloc, united only by their shared disdain for the hawkish right-wing leader Netanyahu, widely known as Bibi.
Shortly before his defeat, Netanyahu, 71, in typically combative style, vowed that “if it’s our destiny to be in the opposition, we’ll do so with our heads high until we take down this bad government and return to lead the country our way”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, popular among his right-wing supporters as “King Bibi” and condemned as the “crime minister” by his critics, has long been the dominant, and increasingly divisive figure in Israeli politics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Bennett on becoming the Prime Minister.
“Excellency @naftalibennett, congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. As we celebrate 30 years of the upgradation of diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting you and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries. @IsraeliPM,” PM Modi tweeted.
Excellency @naftalibennett, congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. As we celebrate 30 years of the upgradation of diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting you and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries. @IsraeliPM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2021
Following weeks of intense political drama, a vote in the Knesset legislature ended Netanyahu government with a razor-thin majority of 60 to 59 in the 120-seat chamber.
Former TV presenter and secular centrist Yair Lapid cobbled together the diverse anti-Netanyahu bloc.
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