{"id":1129551,"date":"2022-06-21T09:14:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T09:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/06\/21\/israel-to-get-a-new-pm-as-government-collapses\/"},"modified":"2022-06-21T09:14:30","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T09:14:30","slug":"israel-to-get-a-new-pm-as-government-collapses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/06\/21\/israel-to-get-a-new-pm-as-government-collapses\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel to get a new PM as government collapses"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Israel to get a new PM \/ Credit: REUTERS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Israel is set to hold a fifth general election in under four years, after its fractured coalition government concluded it could not survive.<\/p>\n

In a major political development, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will switch places with Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid under an existing deal.<\/p>\n

An election could take place in late October, commentators say.<\/p>\n

The former prime minister and current opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to return to office.<\/p>\n

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Monday\u2019s announcement comes after weeks of speculation that the coalition \u2013 the most diverse in Israel\u2019s history \u2013 was on the brink of collapse.<\/p>\n

It risked losing an important vote next week after a member of Mr Bennett\u2019s own right-wing Yamina party quit the coalition, leaving it a minority in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament).<\/p>\n

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Mr Bennett said he had made the \u201cright decision\u201d in the interests of Israel\u2019s security, as dissolving the Knesset extended temporary laws which were put in jeopardy by the vote.<\/p>\n

The coalition had been teetering for weeks. Last week, Yamina MK Nir Orbach resigned from it, saying the government had failed in its main mission \u201cof lifting [Israelis\u2019] spirits\u201d \u2013 a move which left it with only 59 seats. Others had also threatened to rebel.<\/p>\n

The announcement on Monday night caught members of the government by surprise. The Times of Israel quoted sources as saying neither the defence nor interior ministers knew about the decision.<\/p>\n

The bill to dissolve the Knesset will go to a vote next week. If it passes, as expected, Mr Bennett will make way for centrist Yair Lapid to become interim prime minister.<\/p>\n

The two men formed the coalition just over a year ago after a series of inconclusive elections, ousting Mr Netanyahu, Israel\u2019s longest-serving leader.<\/p>\n

The coalition was stitched together from eight parties from across the political spectrum, united only by the desire to make it impossible for Mr Netanyahu to form a government.<\/p>\n

Mr Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on corruption charges which he denies, said it was \u201cgreat news for millions of Israeli citizens\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis government is going home,\u201d he said, adding that he would form \u201ca wide, national government\u201d headed by his Likud party.<\/p>\n

Last week, the results of an Israel Channel 12 TV poll indicated that a bloc led by Mr Netanyahu would win most seats in a fresh election, though still two short of a majority.<\/p>\n

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