14th June: In a seismic shift in the country’s tumultuous politics, a loose coalition of Israeli parties dismissed Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving prime minister, and created a new government on Sunday. Naftali Bennett, a right-wing Jewish nationalist, and former tech millionaire were set to lead the eight-party coalition, which was united only by their dislike for Bibi, the hardline right-wing leader.
Netanyahu, 71, promised just before his defeat, “if it’s our destiny to be in the opposition, we’ll do it with our heads high until we knock down this horrible administration and return to lead the country our way,” in his trademark aggressive style. Netanyahu has long been the dominating, and increasingly contentious, figure in Israeli politics, dubbed “King Bibi” by his right-wing followers and denounced as the “crime minister” by his adversaries. However, after weeks of high political drama, his government was defeated by a razor-thin majority of 60 to 59 in the 120-seat Knesset assembly on Sunday.
Netanyahu’s opponents erupted in cheers and started into an evening of happy festivities in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, having mobilized in recent days with “Bye-bye Bibi” posters. Tal Surkis, 19, one of the marchers, admitted to having mixed feelings about the approaching reform alliance, but added that “it’s something Israel needs.”
Bennett, 49, vowed the new government, a coalition of ideologically diverse parties, would “represent all of Israel” in a Knesset speech before the vote. He claimed that the country had been driven “into a tornado of hostility and in-fighting” following four inconclusive elections in less than two years. “The time has come for different leaders, from all sectors of the country, to stop, to halt this lunacy,” he added, prompting right-wing opponents to scream “lie” and “criminal.”
Netanyahu, who is facing corruption accusations in what he calls a “conspiracy” trial, has been the most powerful Israeli politician of his generation, having previously spent a three-year term in the 1990s. His admirers applaud him as a staunch backer of Israel who has been tough on Iran while also striking a series of historic normalization agreements with many Arab countries last year.
Netanyahu’s legal difficulties will be exacerbated if he is removed from the prime ministership, as he will lose the ability to push through amendments to basic laws in parliament that might provide him with immunity. Bennett, who served as Netanyahu’s defense minister, vowed to keep Israel secure from Iran, pledging that Israel will not let Iran obtain nuclear weapons, a goal that the Islamic republic denies pursuing.
True to his reputation as Israel’s Mr. Security, Netanyahu claimed that Iran is applauding the formation of a dangerous and weak left-wing administration.
The decision came at a time of rising tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has intensified under Netanyahu’s leadership, in part owing to the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank that are illegal under international law. Meanwhile, right-wing rage has escalated in Israel after a controversial Jewish nationalist march through key districts of east Jerusalem was postponed last week. The March of the Flags has been rescheduled for Tuesday, and the ensuing agitation might be a vital first test for the new coalition administration.
The rulers of Gaza, Hamas, have stated that the political changes in Jerusalem will have no impact on their relationship with Israel. “The nature of our partnership does not alter depending on the form the Israeli government takes,” said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokeswoman for the organization, according to TheTimesofIndia. “We must continue to fight a colonizing and invading power.”
Picture Courtesy: timesofisrael.com
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