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Israeli government to be disbanded, nation to go to new elections, says PM Naftali Bennett's office

The two leading coalition partners said in a statement that if the bill is approved, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as premier of a caretaker government.

TN World Desk

Updated Jun 21, 2022, 03:21 IST

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett makes a call before voting on a law on the legal status of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, during a session of the Knesset

Photo : AP

The leaders of Israel's governing coalition said Monday that they will submit a bill next week to dissolve parliament, legislation that would force new elections if approved.

"After exhausting all efforts to stabilise the coalition, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and... (Foreign Minister) Yair Lapid have decided to submit a bill" dissolving parliament "next week", the two leading coalition partners said in a statement. They also said that if the bill is approved, Lapid will take over as premier of a caretaker government.

The coalition of hawks, left-wingers and -- for the first time in Israeli history -- Arab Islamists, temporarily ushered Israel out of an unprecedented era of political gridlock. But after a series of defections that put the coalition on the brink of collapse, Bennett said he would support a bill to dissolve parliament next week, triggering a fifth election in less than four years with no guarantee of a viable new administration.

Bennett and Lapid had agreed to a complex power sharing arrangement when they forged their unprecedented, multi-party coalition one year ago and ousted former premier Benjamin Netanyahu. Under their terms, Lapid takes charge of the caretaker government, while Bennett is responsible for dissolving the alliance.

"I stand here with my friend Yair Lapid, who will soon take over as prime minister in accordance with an agreement between us," the prime minister, said, promising an "orderly" transition, expected next week.

Lapid thanked Bennett for "putting the country before his personal interest".

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