After 12 yrs, Israel wakes up to new govt without Bibi
[Looking] forward to... deepening the strategic relations between our countries. NARENDRA MODI, Indian Prime Minister, on Twitter
JERUSALEM: Israel awoke on Monday with Jewish nationalist Naftali Bennett at the head of a precarious coalition government that faces stark challenges, after 12 years under right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu.
The watershed moment in Israeli politics saw an ideologically disparate eight-party bloc, ranging from right to left to Arab Islamic conservatives, band together to unseat the bombastic veteran known as Bibi by a wafer-thin margin of 60 votes to 59 in parliament on Sunday.
Within hours Bennett, a tech millionaire and former special forces commander, was stepping into his new role as prime minister, speaking with US President Joe Biden and receiving a briefing from national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.
Later on Monday, the 49-yearold’s first full day as Israel’s leader, he was set to talk with his one-time ally Netanyahu.
Ministers of the new government began meeting with their staff and commemorating the beginning of Israel’s 36th government at the country’s presidential residence.
In a statement following Bennett’s swearing in, Biden said, “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Bennett to strengthen all aspects of the close and enduring relationship between our two nations. Israel has no better friend than the United States.”
Israel’s new foreign minister Yair Lapid on Monday vowed to improve relations with US Democrats while ending “hostile” ties with Europe he accused Benjamin Netanyahu of cultivating.
“Our relationship with too many governments has been neglected and become hostile,” Lapid said.