World leaders have congratulated Israel's new Prime Minister Naftali Bennet and alternate prime minister Yair Lapid on forming a new government.
Lapid and U.S. State Secretary Anthony Blinken Monday discussed maintaining a cease fire in Gaza, the Jerusalem Post said.
The 49-year old Bennett - leader of the conservative Yamina Party - was sworn in late Sunday local time putting an end to Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run in power.
Sixty lawmakers of the 120-member chamber voted for the new government while 59 opposed it. Bennett is the 13th prime minister of Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden said it was his firm intent to "deepen cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on the many challenges and opportunities facing the region," The Guardian said Monday.
"Israel has no better friend than the U.S.," Biden said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada "remains steadfast in its commitment to a two-state solution with Israelis and (citizens of the occupied territories) living in peace, security and dignity."
On Twitter, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "On behalf of the UK, I offer my congratulations to @naftalibennett and @yairlapid on forming a new government in Israel."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Bennett. "Germany and Israel are connected by a unique friendship that we want to strengthen further. I look forward to working closely with you," Merkel said.
Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria said on Twitter: "Congratulations to PM @naftalibennett and alternate PM @yairlapid for forming a government. I look forward to working with you."
As new prime minister, Bennett and his new government will concentrate on the relationship between state and religion, the economy, quality of life issues and the cease fire with Hamas.
Israel hasn't passed a budget since March 2018; Bennett and his new cabinet has three months to ratify one or the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, will dissolve and the country will once again head to elections by law.
Meanwhile, there are some who are unhappy with the new government.
"It's an occupation and a colonial entity, which we should resist by force to get our rights back," Reuters quoted Hamas representative Fawzi Barhoum as saying.
"It's a sad day. It's not a legitimate government...they sold their soul and ideology and their beliefs to the extreme left-wing just for one purpose - hatred of Netanyahu and to become a prime minister," Erez Goldman, an Israeli in Jerusalem, said.
Netanyahu now becomes a leader of the Likud Party parliamentary opposition. He vowed that the Israeli opposition will have a loud and clear voice and "we will return to power soon...with our heads held high until we can topple it," he said.
