The 12 years of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year rule will end on Sunday, when Parliament will vote on the new government, and will usher in a promise to heal the country’s longest-serving leader The government of a severely divided country after leaving office.

Netanyahu, 71, is the most dominant Israeli politician of his generation. He failed to form a government after Israel’s election on March 23, the fourth election in two years.

The new cabinet will be a patchwork of centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid and ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett, and is expected to be sworn in after a vote of confidence in the parliament.

Bennett is a hawkish high-tech millionaire who will serve as prime minister for two years before the popular TV host Lapid takes over.

They will lead a government of different political parties, including a government that represents 21% of the Arab minority for the first time. Their plan is mainly to focus on domestic reforms while avoiding comprehensive actions on hot international issues, such as policies against the Palestinians.

Since there is little prospect of progress in resolving the decades-long conflict with Israel, many Palestinians are indifferent to the change of government and said that Bennett may pursue the same right-wing agenda as Netanyahu.

The crucial Knesset meeting on Sunday will open at 4:00 pm local time (1300 GMT), with Bennett, Rapide and Netanyahu all speaking before the vote.

Goodbye Bibi?

Opponents of Netanyahu began to celebrate the end of his era outside his official residence in Jerusalem on Saturday night, the site of weekly protests against right-wing leaders for the past year. A black banner hung on the wall with the words Writing: “Goodbye, Bibi, goodbye”, the demonstrators sang, beat drums, and danced.

“This is an important night for us, and tomorrow will be a bigger day. I almost cry. We are fighting peacefully for this (Netanyahu’s departure), and this day has come,” the protester Ophir Robinski said.

“We are celebrating a year of civil war,” said Maya Alili, a protester from the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva. “Everyone tells us that this will not work. But tomorrow a new government will finally be established in Israel, which proves that the civil war is effective.”

Netanyahu first served as prime minister in the 1990s and has won four consecutive terms since 2009. Facing Israel on the international stage, he is a polarizing figure at home and abroad.

Netanyahu is often referred to as “Bibi”, his hardcore supporters like him, and his critics hate him. His ongoing corruption trial, and his denial of allegations, will only deepen the gap.

For a long time, his opponents have condemned Netanyahu’s divisive remarks, vile political tactics, and national interests subordinate to his own political existence. Some call him the “Minister of Crime” and accuse him of mishandling the coronavirus crisis and its economic impact.

But for Netanyahu’s large and loyal voter base, the departure of some people calling him “King Bibi” may be unacceptable. His supporters are angry at what they see because the country has turned its back on leaders committed to its security and opposes international pressure to take any steps that might lead to a Palestinian state, even if he promotes a diplomatic agreement with the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

However, these measures, and his role in obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine for the country’s world-renowned vaccination campaign, are not enough to give Netanyahu’s Likud enough votes to get him sixth. Tenure.

Bennett, in particular, caused anger within the right-wing camp because of his teaming with Rapide to violate campaign promises.

Netanyahu called the future coalition “the biggest electoral fraud in Israel’s history”, and his Likud group said the accusations refer to the coalition that Bennett has joined “not reflecting the wishes of the voters.”

Bennett said that if there is no government formed, another election that may be held will be a disaster for Israel, thus justifying this move.

Both he and Rapide stated that they hope to bridge political differences and unite Israelis under a government that works hard for all citizens.

Their cabinet faces considerable diplomatic, security, and financial challenges: Iran, the fragile ceasefire with Palestinian groups in Gaza, the war crimes investigation by the International Criminal Court, and the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

Most importantly, their intricate coalition of parties has only a small majority in the parliament, that is, 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, and will still have to compete with Netanyahu-Netanyahu will definitely Become a combative opposition leader.

No one ruled out the possibility of Netanyahu’s comeback.