Bennett-Lapid government wins Knesset majority; Netanyahu is out after 12 years

13 June 2021, 8:54 pm

1 Edit

Party leaders in the emerging coalition: This combination of pictures created on June 2, 2021 shows (Top (L to R) Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, New Hope leader Gideon Sa'ar, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, (bottom L to R) Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas, and Labour leader Merav Michaeli. (Photos by AFP)

The Knesset swears in the 36th government, appointing the right-wing Naftali Bennett the next prime minister and removing Benjamin Netanyahu from power after 12 consecutive years.

Outgoing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands in the Knesset with newly elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, June 13, 2021 (Channel 12 screenshot)

The so-called “change government” is approved with 60 of the Knesset’s 120 lawmakers in favor and 59 opposed. It does not require the backing of 61 lawmakers to be sworn in, rather a simply majority.

Ra’am MK Saeed al-Harumi abstains.