Israel is facing its early elections once again. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid agreed to dissolve the government and proceed to elections next week on the dissolution of the Knesset.

According to Euronews, the government was defeated twice in the Israeli parliament on Monday in a vote of confidence, thus abandoning any new attempt to search for alliances.

The agreement between the two officials stipulates that after the dissolution of the Knesset, Yair Lapid will act as interim Prime Minister until the elections to be held in October and the formation of a new government. That means he will also be the host during Joe Biden’s visit to Israel next month. 

All these on the condition that Benjamin Netanyahu will not be able to form a majority in the current composition of the Israeli parliament.

For that to happen, they need the support of two small parties in parliament, the New Hope and the Yamina, and agree on the formation of a right-wing government. If the country is led to the polls it will be the fifth time in three and a half years.

According to the agreement on the rotation of the Prime Minister, which they reached last May, Bennett would remain Prime Minister until August 2023, when he would hand over power to Lapid for the next two years. 

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Citizens in Israel will find themselves at the polls for the fifth time in three years, following months of efforts to stabilize a divided coalition of eight ideologically disparate parties.

“My friend, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and I have decided to work together to dissolve the Knesset and start the election process at an agreed time, transferring power in an orderly manner and safeguarding the national interest of the state of Israel,” Naftali Bennett stated.

Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, takes over as interim leader under the agreement.

“Even if we hold elections in a few months, the challenges facing the state cannot wait, we have to face the high cost of living, manage the fight against Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and stand against the forces threatening to turn Israel into a non-democratic country,” Lapid said.

For former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this was well-received news: “Tonight, people are smiling … getting rid of the worst government in the history of Israel.”

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