Israel- First cabinet meeting after Lapid takes over

The first cabinet meeting after the interim PM of Israel took over. He took over after as a part of an agreement made a year ago.

 Highlights

• The first cabinet meeting was held on Sunday after Israel’s interim PM Lapid too over
• He took over the position as a part of an agreement made a year ago that created the coalition government. 
• He promised a fully functioning government with political stability. 
• There is a poll coming for the next PM for the 5th time in 4 years. 

Israel had their first cabinet meeting after the interim PM Yair Lapid took over. He took over as per the part of the agreement made a year ago that made the coalition government. He promised to give the country a fully functioning government with political stability. It is due to the political stability of the country that they are going to have its 5th election in less than 4 years.

Lapid also warned that Israel would take any step necessary to defend itself after they shot down 3 unmanned aircraft which were launched by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In the meeting he sat next to his predecessor power sharing partner Naftali Bennett. 

He took over as prime minister as a part of an agreement made last year last week. Naftali Bennett led this government initially but soon stepped down as there was a series of defections and legislative defeats. The parliament dissolved itself which caused new elections which led the power to fall into Lapid’s hands.

Lapid has worked as a foreign minister under Bennett. He said he would use his moths as a caretaker of the country to prove to the citizens that he has prime minister qualities in him. He will travel this week to Paris for various meetings. Then he will host US President Joe Biden, as a potential Pre- election boost. 

 New Israel with new Prime Minister

Israel will have the new polls again on 1st November of this year. Lapid intends to convince the voters to adopt his centrist vision as well as not give former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was ousted after being in power for over a decade a chance to lead the country again.

Bennett will not be running for power this time. 

Lapid said in the coming months, their goal is to run a government as if no election campaign and the citizens deserve a better running and functioning government.

The new interim PM faced first challenge when the Lebanese group launched an unmanned aircraft towards an area in Israel. This area had an Israeli gas platform recently installed in the Mediterranean sea. 

The move was an attempt to influence the US brokered- negotiations between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime border. This area is known for its natural gas.

The upcoming election in Israel will be a referendum on Netanyahu’s ability to lead at a time when he is on trial for corruption charges as in the last 4 years.

However he denies any wrongdoings. But several political parties have refused to join a government headed by him which complicates the effort to form coalitions and end the political turmoil and issues.