(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Wednesday
that he will not run in the upcoming elections as his coalition
government has collapsed only a year after its inauguration,
Trend reports citing Xinhua .
He said in a broadcast statement that he will 'soon' step down
as prime minister and rotate with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid after
the Israeli parliament is expected to vote on Thursday to approve a
bill to dissolve itself.
'I will continue to assist him as an alternate prime minister,'
Bennett said, adding he will 'transfer the job in a professional
and orderly manner.'
Ayelet Shaked, Israeli interior minister and a member of
Bennett's pro-settler Yamina party, will replace him as the leader
of the party, Bennett noted.
The outgoing Israeli leader said the past year, marked by
personal attacks against him and constant attempts to topple his
government by the opposition led by former Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, was 'hard' for him and his family.
Bennett led a coalition made up of eight ideologically diverse
parties, united with the aim of ousting Netanyahu who is facing a
criminal trial over corruption charges.
Israeli news outlets reported that Bennett was considering
running in the forthcoming elections as he was under pressure from
many of his supporters to stay in the race.
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