Anti-Netanyahu unity coalition set for confidence vote on Sunday

Israeli MKs will vote on Sunday to approve an eight-party unity coalition that would end Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12 years as prime minister.

Knesset speaker Yariv Levin said the new government would be sworn after the confidence vote on June 13.

The coalition assembled by centrist leader Yair Lapid would see Naftali Bennett become prime minister in a rotation arrangement, with Lapid following in two years.

Supported by a kaleidoscope of left-wing, right-wing and Arab parties, it is set to be the most diverse government in Israel’s history – but potentially one of its most unstable too.

The eight parties command 62 seats in the Knesset, just one more than a majority, leaving them vulnerable to defections.

Levin also announced a vote will also take place to choose a new Knesset speaker on the same day.