Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Says Israel Will Not Let Iran Have Nuclear Weapons

Israeli Prime Minister Naphtali Bennett. (Wikimedia Commons/Dovereconomy at Hebrew Wikipedia)

JAKARTA - The Israeli parliament agreed by a narrow margin of 60-59 in the formation of a new government, Sunday, June 13 local time with Naftali Bennett to be appointed Prime Minister for two years, to be replaced by coalition leader Yair Lapid.

It marked the end of Benjamin Netanyahu's 12 years in power and the uncertainty of four Israeli elections, with parties joining the coalition successfully getting parliament to approve a new government of change.

Naftali Bennett and his coalition agreed to avoid major moves on hot international issues such as policy towards Palestine, to focus on domestic reforms.

Speaking in Israel's Parliament, Bennett echoed Benjamin Netanyahu's call for the United States not to return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and world powers, a deal that was scrapped by Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump.

"The renewal of the nuclear agreement with Iran was a mistake, a mistake that will again give legitimacy to one of the darkest and cruelest regimes in the world. Israel will not allow Iran to equip itself with nuclear weapons."

Thanking President Joe Biden for his years of commitment to Israel's security and for standing by Israel during the battle with Hamas militants in Gaza last month, Bennett said his government will maintain good relations with the US.

Under the coalition deal, Bennett, a 49-year-old Orthodox Jew, and high-tech millionaire will be succeeded as prime minister in 2023 by Yair Lapid, 57, a former popular television host.

Both Bennett and Lapid said they wanted to bridge political divisions and unite Israelis.

But the new Cabinet, which met for the first time on Sunday evening, faces huge foreign, security, and financial challenges, Iran, a fragile ceasefire with Palestinian militants in Gaza, a war crimes investigation by the International Criminal Court, and a post-pandemic economic recovery.

To note, Bennett listed a number of reform programs in his government, including education, health, cutting bureaucracy to grow businesses, and lower housing costs. Israeli coalition leaders have said they will pass a two-year budget to help stabilize the country's finances.