A page in the history of Israel has turned.
On Sunday, June 13, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was removed from power after a vote of confidence by Parliament in a coalition led by his former ally Naftali Bennett, leader of the religious right, and by centrist Yair Lapid.
Motley and fragile, the governing coalition, united by its sole desire to oust Benjamin Netanyahu from power, will have to find common ground on internal issues and sensitive issues such as the Palestinian question.
Composed of two left parties, two from the center, three from the right and the Arab formation Raam de Mansour Abbas, it will have to hold out to avoid the Israelis a fifth legislative election in two years.
During his last speech as Prime Minister to the Knesset, Benjamin Netanyahu, who led the country from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to June 13, 2021, for his part assured that he would return "soon" to power.
To understand the issues and challenges facing this new government, France 24 interviewed Charles Enderlin, journalist and author of the book "From our correspondent in Jerusalem. Journalism as identity" (Ed. Seuil, Don Quichotte collection) .
France 24: Observers view with skepticism the coalition which has just ousted Benjamin Netanyahu from power, in particular because of its broad ideological spectrum. Do you think it can last over time? What are the elements that can enable it to hold out?
Charles Enderlin:
These are the two big questions. In fact, politically, Israel has entered uncharted waters. It is an unprecedented experience. The extremes of the political scene have never decided to govern together. It is the first time that a government coalition has included an Arab party. In this case, Raam of the Islamic movement of Mansour Abbas, who will chair the parliamentary committee of the Interior. In the government itself, the portfolio of regional cooperation was entrusted to Issawi Freidj, Christian Arab, member of the Meretz party, social democrat. Each element of this coalition, which appears to be unnatural, plays its political future. Failure would inevitably lead to new elections which could be very costly for the various parties that make up this government.The other element that could help to unite the coalition is the opposition led by Netanyahu. The latter had Trumpist accents by swearing to bring down this government "which stole the election".
What are the challenges facing the Bennett government? And on what subjects can the different components of the coalition agree?
Annexationist right and anti-annexationist left can only agree on the lowest common denominator: governance, economy, social, infrastructure development and certain reforms. On all other subjects, the negotiations with the Palestinians, the colonization in the West Bank, the land problems of the Arab citizens of Israel especially the Bedouin of the Negev, possible military operations, the crises will be there. The challenges? The Bennett Lapid government - and we must not forget that it is a two-headed cabinet - will not have 100 days of grace. Not 48 hours. The right and the far right have already planned provocations. A new parade of religious Zionists with flags in the Muslim quarter of the Old City is already scheduled for Tuesday.
Naftali Bennett prides himself on being more to the right than Benjamin Netanyahu and rejects any idea of a Palestinian state, when Yair Lapid says he is in favor of the two-state solution. Should we expect changes? How do you see the future of the Israeli-Palestinian process?
I believe that with regard to the statements of Naftali Bennett, there is a before and an after his arrival as president of the council. The Bennett who hugs Mansour Abbas and presides over a government with, for the first time, the participation of Arab Israelis, is no longer the same one who considered himself more to the right than Benjamin Netanyahu. Likewise, if Netanyahu spews out the Left, Labor and Meretz, Bennett has them in his government. The Palestinian dossier will have to remain on a very low fire to allow annexationists and anti-annexationists to coexist. Naftali Bennett rightly spoke of economic development for the Palestinians ... Will Hamas stand idly by, will it intervene to torpedo the new Israeli government? Highly possible.Islamists have always acted against moderate governments in Israel.
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR