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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Monday his governing coalition would be dissolved and elections for a new government will be held for the fifth time in three years.
The governing coalition had featured eight parties ranging in political ideology and was considered to be fragile as soon as it was formed. The coalition notably featured the United Arab List party, an Arab Muslim party, marking the first time such a party had shared power.
Bennett announced in a press conference Monday evening that Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will become the interim prime minister should a bill dissolving the government pass in the Parliament.
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In his remarks, Bennett commended the efforts of the now-dissolved governing coalition.
“A year ago, we formed a government that had seemed impossible, that stopped the severe leadership paralysis,” Bennett said. “We formed a good government, and together we got Israel out of the slump.”
According to the Times of Israel, elections for a new government will likely be at the end of October.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the end of the current government and strongly criticized the coalition in a statement.
“After a year’s determined struggle by the opposition in the Knesset and great suffering by the public in Israel, it is clear to everyone that the worst government in Israeli history has come to an end,” Netanyahu said.
The Bennett-led government is the latest coalition to fall apart in recent years, with four governments ruling in Israel since April 2019.
The previous governments between 2019 and 2021 resulted from narrow elections with no clear majority coalition. Several elections during that time ended with caretaker governments until another election could be held.
The current government was formed after elections in March 2021 and was the first not to have Netanyahu as prime minister since 2009, despite his party having the most seats of any party.
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Recent polls indicate Netanyahu’s party, Likud, is the leading party but is not anywhere close to a majority.
President Joe Biden is expected to meet with the Israeli prime minister during a visit to the Middle East next month.
