Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, left, and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid react after a vote on a bill to dissolve the parliament at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Israel’s parliament has voted to dissolve itself, sending the country to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
OAN NEWSROOM
UPDATED 7:15 AM PT – Friday, July 1, 2022
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has officially stepped down from his position. In a ceremony Thursday, he handed the position over to the country’s foreign minister — Yair Lapid.
Congratulations to @YairLapid, Israel’s new Prime Minister, and thank you to Alternate Prime Minister @NaftaliBennett for your friendship over the past year. I look forward to seeing you both in July to celebrate the unbreakable U.S.-Israel partnership.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 30, 2022
Lapid’s ascension comes after the Israeli Parliament voted to dissolve themselves and the announcement of Bennett’s retirement from politics. Additionally, as part of a coalition agreement, Lapid will continue to function as Israel’s foreign minister alongside his new position.
“This very special role and this state, it does not belong to one person, it belongs to all the people of Israel,” Bennett stated. “And I am passing to you this holy baton and the responsibility for the State of Israel, and I wish you that you will protect it and God will protect you.”
Outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and incoming Prime Minister Yair Lapid held a handover ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem
An orderly and in-depth transition meeting was then held between outgoing PM Bennett and incoming PM Lapidhttps://t.co/EXunxEssgs pic.twitter.com/qozGIrvO9e
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 30, 2022
Bennett delivered some remarks during the hand-off ceremony in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Israel will form a new cabinet in their November elections.
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