Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will be retiring from political life and not running in the next elections, according to sources.
Bennett first voiced the idea in a meeting with members of his Yamina party, but didn’t make a final decision until today.
Yamina deputies reportedly urged Bennett to make a decision quickly, linking their fate to his political plans.
Once the Knesset clears the necessary legislative hurdles, Israel will head to its fifth election since 2019. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will become interim prime minister until a new government is formed.
Earlier, TV polls predicted Bennett’s Yamina party would win only four to five seats, compared to seven the party won in the 2021 elections.
Bennett was first elected to the Knesset in 2013, after leading the Jewish Home party, which then won 12 seats. He then served as a minister in governments led by current Opposition Leader Bibi Netanyahu.
After the 2021 elections, Bennett broke with Netanyahu and formed a diversified unity government. The coalition has crumbled under the weight of defections in recent months, many from Bennett’s own party, due to ideological differences with coalition partners.
Prior to running the last time, he should have tested his stamina on a treadmill, and realized that he couldn’t hack it.
This is terrible. Netanyahu should resign immediately.
BH
Running is healthy, to some extent.
Good riddance!!!
Don’t get so excited. He’ll be back soon. 3 days ago he said he might run with Bibi which came 3 days after he said he’ll retire from politics.
Good riddens to bad rubbish. Biggest problem, he is two faced and doesn’t have any political backing. Bad loser !
Who would fund a person or party with zero voters?