Home

Netanyahu to leave PM's house by July 10

AAPAAP
Benjamin Netanyahu served for 12 years as Israeli PM until Naftali Bennett's was sworn in last week.
Camera IconBenjamin Netanyahu served for 12 years as Israeli PM until Naftali Bennett's was sworn in last week. Credit: AP

Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his family will leave the country's official prime minister's residence no later than July 10, Netanyahu and Israel's new prime minister say.

Netanyahu was unseated as prime minister on June 13. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett succeeded in cobbling together a government in the aftermath of Israel's fourth consecutive election in two years.

Netanyahu, who served for 12 years as prime minister until Bennett's government was sworn in last week, has yet to move out of the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.

The residence on Balfour Street was the scene of weekly protests calling on Netanyahu to resign while on trial for corruption charges in the past year. Netanyahu refused to step down from office and has denied any wrongdoing. The country's repeated elections were largely a referendum on his fitness to serve.

In a joint statement late on Saturday, Bennett and Netanyahu's offices said they had agreed the Netanyahu family would leave the residence no later than July 10. Thereafter, "the residence will transfer to the use of Prime Minister Bennett".

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to topple the newly formed government, which he has called a "dangerous leftist government". It is comprised of eight parties, including several headed by former allies and proteges of Netanyahu, smaller liberal parties and an Islamist faction.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails