Israel's new government, due to be sworn in on Sunday, consists of a hodgepodge of political parties that have little in common other than a desire to unseat veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The coalition spans the far-left to the far-right and includes for the first time a small Islamist faction representing Israel's Arab minority.
Under the coalition deal, Bennett will serve as prime minister for two years and until he is replaced by Yair Lapid. He will be the country's first leader to wear a kippah, a skullcap worn by Orthodox Jews.Lapid heads the centrist Yesh Atid party and was the architect behind the new government. His party is the biggest in the coalition but he agreed to share power with Bennett to secure a parliamentary majority.
A far-right immigrant from Moldova who lives in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, Lieberman has been a political wildcard over the past decade. He has joined Netanyahu governments, including as defence minister, but also quit. The ultra-Orthodox community has low participation rates in the workforce and relies heavily on government handouts while focusing on religious studies. Lieberman has said he will work to integrate them more into the economy.Saar was Netanyahu's main rival within Likud, but Netanyahu did his best to keep him out of the spotlight and away from the highest-level portfolios. Frustrated, Saar launched a failed leadership bid then spun off his own party.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hamas 'deplores' Rep. Ilhan Omar's comparison of U.S., Israel to their mission'We deplore this unfair combination that is contrary to justice and international law,' the Hamas website stated.
Read more »
Israel Could See New Government if Confidence Vote PassesA new Israeli government is set to be sworn in if a coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents passes a confidence vote in parliament, potentially bringing an end to the leader’s 12-year run in power.
Read more »
Omar retweets video by anti-Israel group investigated by FBI for possible terrorism tiesOn Tuesday, the day after she posted her infamous tweet likening the U.S. and Israel to terror groups Hamas and the Taliban, Omar retweeted a post with a video produced by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Read more »
Mossad chief stops short of confirming Israel behind Iran nuclear attacks'It doesn't look like it used to look,' Yossi Cohen said of the cellar of Iran's nuclear Natanz facility.
Read more »