Bennett: Considering resigning in the coming days • Succession battles over the dying party

26 בJune 2022   

Outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held consultations today (Sunday) about his political future and preparations for the transfer of power to Yair Lapid. Safe swimming in the sea: everything you need to know about spending time at the beach According to a report in Kan News, Bennett told his associates that he is "considering resigning in the coming days" from the government and not serving in the unnecessary role known as "alternate prime minister." In doing so, he will try, perhaps too late, to show his voters that there is a promise not to sit in the government under Yair Lapid. According to him, if he remains in the role of alternate prime minister, it will only be to provide security assistance to the inexperienced Yair Lapid, as the holder of the "Iran portfolio." According to journalist Michael Shemesh, the people who spoke with Bennett have concluded that he will not run in the upcoming elections, and all his hesitation now concerns only the timing of his retirement. His office said: "He will make a decision only after his term as prime minister ends." Bennett met this afternoon with Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Deputy Minister of Religious Services Matan Kahane, and told them that he is considering resigning in the coming days and not running in the elections for the 25th Knesset. According to a Channel 7 report, Shaked is set to take control of the Yamina party if Bennett resigns, but Matan Kahane may give up running on the list in the elections, in light of differences of opinion with Shaked about a future seat in Netanyahu's government. Kahane, like Bennett, opposes serving in a narrow right-wing government and claims that Israel needs a unity government that includes elements from both the right and the left, without the political extremes. If Shaked takes the lead of Yamina, Kahane may prefer to give up running for the Knesset or run on other lists, such as those of Gideon Sa'ar or Benny Gantz.