‘Bye bye, Bibi’ – Netanyahu gone
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, was ousted yesterday by a crossparty coalition government, raising hopes that the worst political crisis in the country’s history is drawing to a close.
At a special session in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, lawmakers voted narrowly in favour of removing Netanyahu from high office and swearing in a unity government.
The coalition will be led by Naftali Bennett, the Right-wing leader of the Yamina party, who will serve as prime minister for two years before handing the reins to centrist leader Yair Lapid.
As the result of the vote was announced, crowds of anti-Netanyahu campaigners gathered for celebrations at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv where they brandished ‘‘Bye bye, Bibi,’’ placards, referring to Netanyahu’s nickname.
The end to the deadlock comes after four inconclusive election results in Israel since 2019 which had plunged the country into political turmoil. Netanyahu furiously condemned the new government yesterday and vowed to bring it down from the opposition benches, in a sign that he clings to the hope of eventually returning as prime minister.
‘‘If it is destined for us to be in the opposition, we will do it with our backs straight until we topple this dangerous government and return to lead the country in our way,’’ Netanyahu said in a lengthy speech before the vote.
‘‘With God’s help, it will happen a lot earlier than you think it will.’’
He went on to claim that Bennett ‘‘does not have the international standing, he doesn’t have the credibility, he doesn’t have the capabilities, he doesn’t have the knowledge and he doesn’t have the governmental support to allow him a real defence [against Iran].’’
Bennett was heckled with insults from Right-wing lawmakers as he gave a speech shortly before the vote, prompting the speaker to remove several of them from the chamber.
‘‘The time has come for different leaders, from all parts of the population, to stop, to stop this madness,’’ Bennett said, though his speech was almost drowned out by hecklers in the Knesset branding him a liar and a criminal.
Ra’am, an Islamist party, will be part of the new coalition, making it the first Arab party to join an Israeli government, rather than lend external support.
Mansour Abbas, the leader of Ra’am, said that tackling crime which has blighted Arab communities in Israel would be among his top priorities.
He added that his party would ‘‘advance a dialogue that will bring about better, new, principled relations for all citizens of the state: Jews and Arabs.’’
Netanyahu now faces a potential leadership challenge in his Right-wing Likud party, though he remains its most popular and high-profile member.