Israeli Occupation parliament to vote Sunday on government that could end Netanyahu's reign

World

Published: 2021-06-13 10:43

Last Updated: 2024-04-24 15:33


Source: BBC
Source: BBC

The Israeli Occupation is preparing to turn a new page in its history on Sunday, with parliament voting on a new government coalition for "change" that may topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rule after 12 continuous years in office during which he drifted strongly to the right.

The Israeli Occupation parliament -the Knesset- will hold a special session starting at 16:00 to vote on the 'Change Coalition,' which includes eight parties, each with its own ideologies, to end nearly two years of political stalemate in the Israeli Occupation which saw four elections. 

The coalition leader, Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, formed the government coalition at the last moments in an alliance with seven parties, two from the left, two from the center and three from the right, including the ultra-nationalist Yamina party and an Arab party, the Southern Islamic Movement.

If the new coalition is granted confidence, Naftali Bennett of the national-religious Yamina party will head the government for two years, followed by the centrist Yair Lapid in 2023, according to the alliance agreement between these formations.

Friday, the Yamina and Yesh Atid parties announced the signing of a coalition agreement to form a national unity government.

"The signing of these agreements ends two and a half years of political crisis," Yamina leader Naftali Bennett said, noting "great challenges."

The right-wing leader said the next government would "work for the benefit of the entire Israeli public - religious, secular, ultra-Orthodox and Arab - without exception as one group".

"I think we will succeed," he added.

For his part, TV presenter Yair Lapid said that "the Israeli public deserves an effective and responsible government that puts the interest of the state at the top of its agenda," stressing that "all partners in this government are committed (...) to the people of Israel."

Unless there is a last-minute turnaround, the government is expected to gain confidence. After the Knesset vote, the formal handover of power is supposed to take place on Monday in the Prime Minister's Office.

Netanyahu, 71, was once again the target of fresh protests on Saturday night. In front of his official residence in Occupied Jerusalem, the demonstrators did not wait for a vote to celebrate the "fall" of "King Bibi," the title of Netanyahu, who assumed prime minister for the second time in 2009, after three years in office from 1996 to 1999.

"Netanyahu only sought to divide us, one part of society against another," said Ofir Rubinsky, one of the protesters, adding, "But tomorrow (Sunday) we will be united, right and left, Jews and Arabs."

For his part, protester Gali Yisrael Tal, 62, said, "This is a good thing. It is over and he will leave," referring to Netanyahu.

- 'Peaceful transition' -

Angry demonstrations in support of Netanyahu, including protests outside the homes of some Yamina lawmakers who were accused of "treason", raise concern, and prompted the Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) to strengthen security protection for some of the lawmakers.

Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges that could end in prison, described the next government as a "dangerous leftist," raising fears of political confusion.

Bennett called on his former mentor, Netanyahu, to step down without problems so that Israeli Occupation residents would remember his achievements for the Jewish state. However, Netanyahu's recent statements made him appear to be trying to repeat the scenario of his former American ally, Donald Trump, who armed his supporters outside the US Capitol in the last days of his reign. 

Netanyahu considered the possible change in the Israeli Occupation as "the greatest electoral fraud in Israel," accusing Bennett of "selling the country on fire." He also said that the emerging coalition "does not reflect the will of the Israeli electorate."