Knesset splits, prepare elections for November 1; Lapid to become PM at midnight

But it also suggests a likely second chance for the controversial Netanyahu, whose right-wing Likud party is performing well in local polls.

Israeli lawmakers voted on Thursday to dissolve parliament following the collapse of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s ruling alliance. that will be Israel’s fifth in less than four years.

Bennett has stepped down at midnight to be replaced by his alliance partner, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who will lead the government during what is likely to be a bitter election battle with opposition leader and Ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bennett said late Wednesday that he will not stand in the upcoming election set for 1st November 2022. Which will see veteran right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu trying to retrieve power.

 Israel Election Process. 

Israel’s current difficulty reflects the increased separation in the Middle East country of over 9 million, some observer says, as well as different views on the country’s directions.

In order to lead the government in Israel party has to win a majority of 61 seats the magic number in parliament. It isn’t possible for the party with the most seats to discuss alliances with another party to form a government.

This paves the way for the fifth election in three years after the most diverse and unlikely coalition in the country’s history which feature centrists, right-wingers, left-wingers, and even Islamists hit a level lock it could overcome just one year of existence   

 Evaluating the Competition 

Mr. Lapid faces a tough challenge from former PM Benjamin Netanyahu who has to return to power. Mr. Lapid a 58-year-old former TV news anchor ousted Benjamin Netanyahu Israel’s longest-serving leader last June.

In an emotional TV address last week Mr. Bennett said he and Mr. Lapid has “turned over every single rock” to try to keep the coalition going, but they had run out of options.

Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement as “great news for millions of Israeli citizens.

Yair Lapid is a journalist turned politician. The 58-year-old leader is widely credited for building the coalition that ended end Netanyahu’s record 12th successive year in power.   

Yair Lapid officially became the 14th prime Minister of Israel at the stroke of midnight between Thursday and Friday.

He has been known for the hosted one of the biggest mainstream talk shows in the 1990s. He wrote a popular Israeli Tv series “War Room” in 2005 which was based on a secret unite elite spies and military officers.

This announcement comes as the Israeli Knesset is set to vote on a proposal to hold an early election. The Yamina party leader served as the prime minister for a year.   

Yosef “Tommy” Lapid his father was a Holocaust savior he had later turned into a secular politician

Israel’s Fifth Election in three years 

Israel held four uncertain elections between 2019 and 2021 that were largely referendums about Former Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability to rule while on the trial for corruption charges.

As per the Opinion polls, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line Likud party once again emerge as the largest single party However it remains unclear whether he will be able to gather the required support from a majority of lawmakers to form the new government.