Benjamin Netanyahu’s record 12-year run as Israel’s prime minister ended on Sunday with parliament approving a new “government of change” led by nationalist Naftali Bennett.
Leader of the Yamina party Naftali Bennett was sworn in as the 13th Israeli prime minister, together with chairman of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid who will replace him in August 2023.
Bennett listed as priorities reforms in education, health, cutting red tape to grow businesses and lower housing costs. Coalition leaders have said it would pass a two-year budget to help stabilise the country's finances.
On Sunday, the Knesset approved the new government as well as elected Mickey Levy of the Yesh Atid party as a new speaker. The swearing in of a new head of the government ended Benjamin Netanyahu’s record-breaking term as prime minister of 4,456 days since 2009 who now becomes a leader of the parliamentary opposition. He is heading the Likud party which has the highest number of mandates at the Knesset. On Sunday, Netanyahu vowed that the Israeli opposition will have a loud and clear voice and will return to power soon.
