Naftali Bennett retires from politics and transfers leadership of his Yamina party to Ayelet Shaked

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has retired from political life for the time being and announced his intention not to run in the upcoming elections.

Bennett said in a press conference that he will take over the position of next Deputy Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and will help him temporarily lead the government until the next elections, after the vote to dissolve the Knesset tonight.

Bennett added that he will continue to help Lapid as long as necessary, adding that his government has achieved calm in the Gaza envelope, worked with many common denominators, and achieved many successes.

In a related context, the Hebrew "Walla" website said that Bennett made his decision after consultations with some members of the Yamina party headed by him and a number of his close associates.

He announced the transfer of the leadership of his Yamina party to Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, whom he described as a "distinguished partner", saying: "I am sure that she will remain in the leadership of the party forever."

A quick poll conducted by the Hebrew "Channel 12" after Bennett's announcement, showed that the Yamina party led by Shaked will win 5 seats and exceed the electoral threshold, and that if the right-wing bloc led by Likud is joined, it will reach 63 seats, and thus Netanyahu does not need the party of Mansour Abbas or others.

And the official Hebrew channel Kan reported that, on Wednesday evening, Naftali Bennett told members of his parliamentary bloc that he did not intend to run in the upcoming elections.

The channel stated, in a statement, that Bennett, however, would remain until the elections in the post of alternate prime minister.

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