Israel’s Lapid vows comeback as Netanyahu’s gov’t prepares to take power

ANKARA

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday vowed to return to power, as a new government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to be sworn in.

"Citizens of Israel, thanks for the last year and a half," Lapid said in a farewell message on Facebook, referring to his year as alternate prime minister under Naftali Bennett and his six months as premier.

Describing Netanyahu’s incoming coalition as a government of destruction, Lapid said; "This isn’t the end, this is the beginning of the struggle for our beloved country."

"We are fighting for the future of our kids and we won’t stop until we topple the government of destruction, and return," he added.

In the last legislative elections held on Nov. 1, Netanyahu and his right-wing bloc won 64 seats against 51 seats for Lapid’s allies in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset (Israel’s parliament).

The Knesset opened a special session on Thursday to grant confidence to Netanyahu’s new government.