Israel election set for 1 November, Bennett won’t run

As Yair Lapid takes over as Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett announces he will quit politics, increasing the likelihood of a Netanyahu-led coalition winning at the polls

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced he will not run in the upcoming Knesset elections, and that Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked will assume leadership of his Yamina Party.
Bennett’s unwillingness to sit with his nemesis Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the factors that created the outgoing Coalition government.

A snap opinion poll published by Channel 12 and taken just before Bennett’s announcement showed that a Shaked -led Yamina party would get five seats if elections were held now. Added to Netanyahu’s existing supporters, that would mean a Netanyahu-led bloc would control 63 seats in the next Knesset, more than enough to form a governing coalition.

The Knesset dissolved yesterday and Yair Lapid took over as caretaker prime minister until the election, which will take place on 1 November.

Lapid tweeted his thanks to his outgoing coalition partner and ideological opponent. "My brother Naftali, thank you, in my name and the name of all the people of Israel," he said.
Bennett’s announcement immediately prompted the resignation of Yamina’s CEO Stella Weinstein; Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana indicated that he might leave Yamina.

Perhaps the most immediate beneficiaries of Naftali Bennett’s decision to dissolve his government are his longtime neighbors in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ra’anana, commented Orly Halpern on JTA.

“For almost a year they have endured large and “deafening” demonstrations by Bennett’s critics. Many were supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett’s predecessor, who are known as “Bibists” and who used powerful megaphones, sirens and drums to express their anger at Bennett taking their beloved leader’s place.”

READ MORE
Naftali Bennett to not run in next elections, Shaked to head Yamina (Jerusalem Post)

Poll shows Shaked’s Yamina winning 5 seats, capable of giving Netanyahu a majority (Times of Israel)

A silver lining of Israel’s political turmoil: Naftali Bennett’s neighbours can finally get their driveways back (JTA)

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Photo: Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid embrace as the Knesset dissolves (AAP)