Netanyahu, Bennett strike deal, facilitating new government

Netanyahu and Bennett announced their coalition deal on Wednesday night, with the Bayit Yehudi leader committing to join the government, but have yet to sign the deal in order to give Bennett 24 hours to iron out final details.

 

“Finally, there’s a government in Israel,” Bennett said at a late-night press conference. “This isn’t a right-wing government, it isn’t a left-wing government, and it isn’t a center government. It’s a government of the entire nation of Israel.”

 

“I want to tell you, Mr. Prime Minister, we are behind you,” Bennett added. “We will help and aid you for the success of the government under your leadership.”

 

“I’m sure no one is surprised of the fact these negotiations continued with all of the factions, and no one was surprised that it ended on time,” Netanyahu said.

 

“I said before that 61 was a good number, but 61 plus is an even better number. There’s still a lot of work left to all of us. Good luck to us and to the people of Israel,” the prime minister added.

 

After the press conference, Netanyahu called President Reuven Rivlin to tell the president he was successful in forming a government. The prime minister now has exactly a week to swear in his government.

 

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