Written by Namya Saraf, a grade 11 student.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been Israel’s longest serving prime minister, having held the job since 2009. Now, the fall of “King Bibi” (a title earned by his lengthy stay in office and authoritarian inclinations) has finally taken place.

Who has taken over now?

Naftali Bennett, a right-wing nationalist, has been sworn in as the Prime Minister, leading a “government of change”. He will lead an unprecedent coalition of parties which was approved with a majority of 60.

Mr. Bennett will be prime minister until September 2023 as part of a power sharing deal. He will then hand power over to Yair Lapid for the following two years. Mr. Netanyahu will become the leader of the opposition.

US president Joe Biden has already sent his well wishes to Naftali Bennett saying that he looks forward to working with him. He said that “Israel has no better friend than the United States.” Asold habits die hard after the vote was announced, Benjamin Netanyahu went and sat back in the Prime Minister’s chair. He had to be ushered to the opposition benches. It was a moment of political history as he was unseated as the longest serving leader of Israel.

Another common element worth dwelling on is that many of those who unseated Benjamin Netanyahu were his political apprentices. The lawmakers making up the foundation of Israel’s next coalition studied in Netanyahu’s academy. They reached this position thanks to him, but also despite him. Even Naftali Bennett was Netanyahu’s chief of staff.

This is not yet the end of the Netanyahu era. But it may be the end of solitary leadership and the beginning of coalitions. Nobody knows what the future holds but one can only hope that Israel will succeed in their joint endeavors.

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