Bennet Seeks to Replace Netanyahu, Chair Cabinet with Center, Left Parties

Israeli former Minister of Security, Naftali Bennett (EPA)
Israeli former Minister of Security, Naftali Bennett (EPA)
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Bennet Seeks to Replace Netanyahu, Chair Cabinet with Center, Left Parties

Israeli former Minister of Security, Naftali Bennett (EPA)
Israeli former Minister of Security, Naftali Bennett (EPA)

Israeli former Security Minister Naftali Bennett is planning to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister after the Knesset elections on March 23, sources close to the Union of Right-Wing Parties revealed.

The sources indicated that Bennett wants to form a government that includes left and center blocs, but the plan depends on the right-wing parties winning the elections.

The right-wing camp includes Likud, religious parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, and the Zionist party al-Kahane, who seek to win more than 61 seats in alliance with Yamina.

If this is accomplished, Bennett will discuss chairing the cabinet with the opposing camp that includes other right-wing parties such as New Hope, Yisrael Beiteinu, Yesh Atid, Kahol Lavan, Labor party, and Meretz.

He will offer a joint premiership with all or some of them, noting that the alternative will be joining a government formed by Netanyahu, while they remain in opposition.

The latest polls showed that Netanyahu is unlikely to win the majority, even if Bennett joins him.

Last week, results showed that Kahol Lavan, Meretz, and the Islamic movement led by MP Mansour Abbas could lose, which will increase his possibilities of winning equal seats.

Netanyahu aims to increase his chances by appeasing Arab voters. He was seen pouring Arabic coffee in the Negev for a group of Tarabin Bedouin sheiks while asking for their votes.

The prime minister aims to do one of two things, either form a right-wing government under his leadership or head to fifth elections, ensuring he remains the head of the transitional government.

Meanwhile, Bennett believes this will be his chance to become prime minister for the first time, although he only won three seats during the last two elections.

He wants to rely on the center and left parties, stressing that their only chance to remove Netanyahu is by giving him the lead, even though the polls gave him 11-12 seats.

Bennet believes that this will ensure that a fifth election won't take place and will rid them of Netanyahu. He is suggesting the formation of an emergency government under his leadership that focuses on the coronavirus and economic crisis and refrains from engaging in heated issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He explains that such a government would put an end to Netanyahu's policy and chaotic ruling and restores the state.

“I am confident that we will succeed together despite all difficulties,” he said, adding that Israel witnessed far more complex alliances in the past.

However, Bennett will not promise to reject an alliance with Netanyahu and believes his rivals Gideon Saer and Yair Lapid will not be able to form a government unless they unite with the Joint List, while he is proposing a Jewish Zionist government.

Recent polls showed that Lapid could win 20 seats and Saer 12 or 13, which further complicates the situation as the former refuses to ally with the Arabs and will not join Netanyahu, while the latter accepts an alliance with the Arabs, but cannot persuade Bennett to join.

Bennet’s sole opportunity to become prime minister is to persuade the religious parties to abandon their alliance with Netanyahu, especially when it becomes clear that he cannot form a government. But this seems impossible because supporters of religious parties prefer Netanyahu over any other political leader.



Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 3,085 as More Bodies Found

People look at the collapsed Maha Myat Muni Pagoda following an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, 28 March 2025 (issued 29 March 2025). EPA/STRINGER
People look at the collapsed Maha Myat Muni Pagoda following an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, 28 March 2025 (issued 29 March 2025). EPA/STRINGER
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Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 3,085 as More Bodies Found

People look at the collapsed Maha Myat Muni Pagoda following an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, 28 March 2025 (issued 29 March 2025). EPA/STRINGER
People look at the collapsed Maha Myat Muni Pagoda following an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, 28 March 2025 (issued 29 March 2025). EPA/STRINGER

The death toll from the massive earthquake that hit Myanmar nearly a week ago rose Thursday to 3,085 as search and rescue teams found more bodies, the military-led government said, and humanitarian aid groups scrambled to provide survivors medical care and shelter.
In a short statement, the military said another 4,715 people have been injured and 341 are missing.
The epicenter of Friday's 7.7 magnitude earthquake was near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. It brought down thousands of buildings, buckled roads and destroyed bridges in multiple regions, The Associated Press said.
Local media reports of casualties have been much higher than the official figures and with telecommunications widely out and many places difficult to reach, it's thought the numbers could rise sharply as more details come in.
The World Health Organization said that according to its initial assessment, four hospitals and one health center had been completely destroyed while another 32 hospitals and 18 health centers had been partially damaged.
“With infrastructure compromised and patient numbers surging, access to health care has become nearly impossible in many of the worst-hit areas,” the UN said. “Thousands of people are in urgent need of trauma care, surgical interventions and treatment for disease outbreaks.”
A mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian hospital also were now operating in Mandalay.
With many left homeless by the earthquake, and many others staying away from their homes over fears ongoing aftershocks will bring them down, workers in Naypyitaw labored in the 40 degree Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) busily erected big tents in open fields to provide some shelter.
In Mandalay, local residents gave slices of watermelon to Chinese volunteers taking a break from the heat.
More than 1,550 international rescuers were operating alongside locals on Thursday, according to a statement from the military. Rescue supplies and equipment have been sent by 17 countries.
Myanmar’s military seized power in 2021 from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has turned into a civil war.
The quake worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people displaced from their homes and nearly 20 million in need even before it hit, according to the United Nations.
As concerns grew that ongoing fighting could hamper humanitarian aid efforts, the military declared a temporary ceasefire Wednesday, through April 22. The announcement followed unilateral temporary ceasefires announced by armed resistance groups opposed to military rule.
The military said it would still take “necessary” measures against those groups if they use the ceasefire to regroup, train or launch attacks.
Already on Thursday there were reports from local media in Kachin state in the north of Myanmar that military attacks continued in several areas, but they could not be independently confirmed.
Prior to the earthquake the military was battling the Kachin Independence Army group. The KIA on Wednesday also declared a ceasefire but reserved the right to defend itself. It was unclear how the reported fighting broke out.
The earthquake shook Kachin, but there have been no reports of damage there.
In Bangkok, where the quake brought down a skyscraper under construction, the search for survivors and bodies continued as Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said a possible sound of life was detected in the rubble. By near day's end, however, nobody was found.
Twenty-two people were killed and 35 injured in the city, mostly by the collapse of the unfinished building.