Yair Lapid has been sworn in as Israel's next Prime Minister
Yair Lapid has been sworn in as Israel's next Prime Minister
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Yair Lapid was sworn in as Israel’s 14th Prime Minister at midnight on Thursday and Friday.

Lapid’s tenure could be brief as he takes over the caretaker government ahead of Israel’s election on November 1, according to The Times of Israel.

“We’ll do our best for a Jewish, democratic state that is good, robust, and thriving,” Lapid stated during a handover ceremony with departing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday afternoon.

On his first day in office, Lapid is to meet with Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security agency, at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Shortly after, the incoming Prime Minister would convene a conference to discuss “the hostages and MIAs,” referring to the two Israeli citizens and the remains of two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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Last matter made headlines again this week after Hamas released a video showing Israeli detainee Hisham al-Sayed hooked up to an oxygen mask, the first image of him since he crossed into Gaza in 2015, according to The Times of Israel.

Hamas is also thought to be holding the bodies of soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin. Negotiations to gain their release have continually broken down over the years.

US Vice President Joe Biden complimented Lapid on his new position as Prime Minister. “Congratulations to Israel’s new Prime Minister, @YairLapid, and thank you to Alternate Prime Minister @NaftaliBennett for your friendship over the previous year,” he stated on Twitter.

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“I hope to see you both in July to celebrate the unshakable United States-Israel partnership,” Biden concluded.

 

According to The Times of Israel, Lapid will also make a brief journey to Paris on July 5 to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Lapid is slated to have his first weekly cabinet meeting as prime minister on Sunday. Bennett is expected to serve as an alternate prime minister in the administration. He will also continue to be in charge of the country’s Iran strategy.

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Bannett declared on Wednesday that he will not run in the 2019 parliamentary elections.

“Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has informed members of his right-wing coalition that he will not run in the upcoming election. Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister, will continue to serve as an alternate Prime Minister “According to Sputnik, his office stated.

This announcement comes as the Israeli Knesset prepares to vote on an early election proposal. The Yamina party’s leader served as Prime Minister for a year.