Netanyahu vows to form a ‘broad and stable government’ in Israel without relying on ‘supporters of terrorism’

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to form a “broad, strong and stable national government” that will “restore national pride” after “the fall of the worst government in Israel’s history”.

The statement came after Israeli coalition leaders made a striking statement that they would propose a bill that would abolish the Knesset, which sent Israelis to the fifth election in three years. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will resign and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as interim prime minister until elections are held at the end of October.

“This is good news night for millions of people,” Netanyahu said.

He accused the current coalition of inflicting “great suffering” on Israel and “losing national pride”.

“This is a government that surrenders to the personal safety of the Israeli people and takes the cost of living to new heights,” the opposition leader said.

The historic Bennett-Lapida coalition was formed last year between the right, centre, left and specifically the Islamist Ra’am Party, and it is the first time an Arab party has entered a ruling coalition.

Netanyahu criticized Raam’s inclusion in the coalition, saying it resulted in a “government dependent on terrorist supporters”.

“I will not sit in government” [Ra’am chief] “Mansur Abbas and I did not sit down with Mansur Abbas,” Netanyahu said.

Raam leader Mansour Abbas said he would not stop being in government with Likud if it meant advancing the interests of the Arab sector.

Earlier on Monday, Bennett held a joint press conference with Lapid, saying the decision to dissolve the government was “in the best interests of the country”.

“We are meeting with you today at a very difficult time, but we understand that we made the right decision for Israel,” he said.

He said the decision was made because the government failed to pass a major bill that would expand civil rights to Israeli residents in the West Bank.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a warning about President Joe Biden’s attempts to return to the Iran nuclear deal. https://t.co/tpkbPa1opn

– Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) March 22, 2022

The Netanyahu-led opposition disrupted the initial vote on the bill because they wanted to overthrow the government at all costs – although they supported it ideologically.

If the bill is not passed by July 1, the consequences will be dire and Israel will have to pay a heavy price for security.

About half a million Israelis living in the West Bank will not be subject to Israeli law and will not have the right to vote. Israelis who commit crimes in these areas will be brought before military courts and imprisoned in the West Bank.

In addition, Israeli police will no longer have the authority to investigate Israeli settlers suspected of committing crimes, and will no longer have the authority to investigate Israelis, including Arab citizens of Israel who committed crimes in Israel and then fled to the West. Banks.

“I did not agree to harm Israel’s security,” Bennett said on Monday night.

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized his prospective successor, Naftali Bennett, in a speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, before voting to approve a new Israeli government on Sunday afternoon. https://t.co/eMsY9m4iPz

– Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) 13 June 2021

Summing up the last year of his reign, the outgoing prime minister said: “We formed a government that many thought impossible. We brought Israel out of the terrible hole it was in. A year ago, there was widespread unemployment, a huge deficit, riots, rockets in Jerusalem. He was paralyzed by the government. We have established a government with the help of Allah,” he said.