Change of leadership: Congratulations for Bennett
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder has reacted to the formation of the new Israeli government.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, together with alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid. (Photos by Shalev Shalom/TPS)
He said: “I congratulate the leaders of Israel’s political parties who have come together to form a government of national unity that includes all sides of the Israeli political spectrum, from right to left, religious to secular. I am delighted that these efforts have now come to fruition and that this new government has been established.
I know incoming Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and incoming Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and am confident that their partnership, together with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Avigdor Liberman, Gideon Sa’ar, Merav Michaeli, Nitzan Horowitz, Mansour Abbas, and their colleagues from their respective parties, will provide Israel with stability and the same spirit of unity the people of Israel demonstrated during the recent Israel-Hamas military conflict. The State of Israel must be a beacon of unity for the entire Jewish people, and I am confident that its new government will also help bring Diaspora Jewry together.
I especially recall being together with then Diaspora Minister Bennett in Pittsburgh in October 2018 immediately after the vicious murder of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue. I remember his concern for all Jews, regardless of whether they were Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, or secular. I am certain that going forward, he, Foreign Minister Lapid, and their colleagues in the new government will be equally committed to the unity of the Jewish people, both in Israel and across the globe.
On behalf of the more than 100 Jewish communities on six continents affiliated with the World Jewish Congress, I look forward to working with the new government as it embarks on the daunting task of providing the State of Israel with a sense of political stability and ensuring its ongoing success, both domestically and internationally, as we together confront the growing surge of antisemitism across the globe that threatens both Israel and the Jewish people.”
In Australia, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia Jeremy Leibler commented: “We congratulate Naftali Bennett on becoming the 13th prime minister of the State of Israel and every member of the Coalition on the formation of this historic Government. We hope that this Government will deliver on its promise to govern for all Israelis. It will no doubt require pragmatism and a willingness to compromise for the benefit of all citizens of the State of Israel.”
Mr Leibler continued, “Like the new Israeli government, the Australian Jewish community consists of a broad range of religious traditions, and hold political views stretching all the way across the left-right continuum. But we are united in wishing the new Government success in addressing the many challenges facing the State of Israel.”
Mr Leibler also congratulated Yair Lapid. “Mr Lapid has been instrumental in establishing this government. His vision of a centrist party working with both the right and left in government has come to fruition, and he should be extraordinarily proud of his achievement.
Among the new government’s many priorities will be further improving the two-way relationship with the Diaspora. Before taking office, the new government agreed it would implement the Kotel Agreement. We hope to see this achieved without delay”, said Mr Leibler.
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council”s National Chairman Mark Leibler said, ”We wish every success to Israel’s broad new coalition government. Despite its ideological diversity, new PM Naftali Bennett, Alternative PM Yair Lapid and their team appear united by a determination to provide a workable government during an immensely challenging time for Israel on numerous fronts – diplomatic, security, economic, health and others. This coalition includes both strong personalities and idealistic parliamentarians who will bring a diverse range of skills and initiatives to the table. We very much hope this new government will succeed in putting an end to the political stalemate which has afflicted Israeli in such a frustrating way over the past two years.”
AIJAC executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein added, “We look forward to exploring new opportunities to strengthen the Australia/Israel relationship under this broad new Israeli government.
AIJAC also pays tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has completed more than twelve years of leading Israel’s government and has overseen enormous advances for Israel in the diplomatic and economic fields. For these achievements, he deserves the gratitude of all friends of Israel – and of course he appears to have no intention of leaving the political stage.”
Progress for Israel one hopes.