Israel prepares to vote for first government in 12 years not led by Netanyahu

A memorable morning for Israel, as the country prepares to swear in its first government in 12 years not led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

Small recap of the scheduled events of the day:

2:00 p.m. – Prime Minister-designate Naftali Bennett will meet with leaders of the “change the bloc” coalition parties. The meeting will take place in the Yamina Party faction hall in the Knesset and will be closed to the press.

3 p.m.. – The parties to join the coalition will meet individually.

4:00 p.m.. – The Knesset is meeting. Bennett and his partner Yair Lapid will present the government and its guiding principles. Netanyahu, the future opposition leader, is also expected to speak. All party representatives will have the opportunity to speak. Parliament will then vote on the new government.

After the session, members of the newly installed government will travel to the President’s Residence for the traditional ministers’ group photo with outgoing President Reuven Rivlin, who will end his seven-year term on July 9.

8:30 p.m. – A celebratory meeting, closed to the press, will be held in the Chagall Hall of the Knesset.

9:00 p.m. – An inaugural cabinet meeting will be held in the Knesset lobby in Jerusalem at 9 p.m. and will be open to the press.