Israel awaits dissolution of parliament for elections in the fall

After debates which dragged on Wednesday evening, the Israeli deputies met on Thursday June 30 to vote for the dissolution of Parliament, which will open the way to new elections and the entry on the scene of the centrist Yaïr Lapid as interim prime minister.

Read alsoIsrael: Yair Lapid begins his “fight of the century”

A parliamentary committee, made up of elected officials from the opposition and the ruling coalition, had agreed earlier this week to dissolve the Knesset and Parliament on Wednesday evening, but this vote was postponed due in particular to debates which lingered in the chamber over various bills that elected officials wanted to pass before the dissolution.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement by outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that he will not be a candidate in the next elections scheduled for the fall, normally on October 25 or November 1.

Cut short 12 years of power

"

," Naftali said. Bennett, confirming to cede the direction of his Yamina formation to the current Minister of the Interior, Ayelet Shaked.

And Naftali Bennett must yield shortly after the dissolution of Parliament - officially at 00:00 the day after the dissolution, that is to say in the first moments of Friday - his title of Prime Minister to the head of diplomacy Yaïr Lapid.

In June 2021, Naftali Bennett and Yaïr Lapid had written a page in the history of Israel by bringing together a coalition of eight parties (right, left, center), including for the first time an Arab formation, in order to cut short 12 Benjamin Netanyahu's years of continuous power.

Read alsoIn Israel, the ultra-Orthodox marginalized by Naftali Bennett

But a year later, the coalition lost its majority in the chamber to the point where the government was unable to pass the renewal of a law guaranteeing the more than 475,000 settlers in the occupied West Bank the same rights as the other Israelis.

In this context, Naftali Bennet, himself an ardent defender of settlements, which are contrary to international law, preferred to harakiri his government, announcing his intention to dissolve the chamber to call new elections.

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Israel: the Knesset proceeds to the first preliminary vote for a dissolution

To Lapid

However, the coalition agreement between Naftali Bennett and Yaïr Lapid provided for a sharing of power, including a clause according to which Yaïr Lapid ensured the interim until the formation of a new government in the event of the dissolution of Parliament, which intervenes at a time when polls still show a fragmentation of the Israeli political landscape with 13 parties sharing 120 seats.

“

,” Yair Lapid said last week, who will not have time to celebrate for long. his accession to the highest steps of Israeli power.

This former star journalist, who founded the centrist party "

" ("

" in Hebrew) a decade ago, will have to quickly put his troops in battle order for the legislative elections, in addition to to be both Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Yaïr Lapid will welcome US President Joe Biden to Israel in mid-July for his first tour of the Middle East since his arrival at the White House.

He will also have to keep his eyes on domestic politics with opposition and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, 72, on trial for corruption in a series of cases, who is seeking to regain his former post as prime minister.

Read alsoIn Israel, Naftali Bennett scuttles his government

“

,” Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday.

“

” added Benjamin Netanyahu, thus launching his next election campaign ahead of time.