Israel: Netanyahu resigns as prime minister after 12 years

They left the prime minister’s residence, where they lived for the last 12 years, o Benjamin Netanyahu and his family.

“Shortly after midnight, the Netanyahu family left the official (prime minister) residence in Balfour,” said Ofer Golan, a spokesman for the family of the right-wing Likud leader.

Mr Netanyahu stepped down as prime minister a month after a new government was sworn in.

In recent years, this building, at the junction of Balfour and Smolensk streets, has become the focus of protests by opponents of the former prime minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who deeply divides Israelis, is accused by his country’s justice of bribery, fraud and abuse of trust.

He had agreed with his successor Naftali Bennett to leave the building until yesterday.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz explained in a report that Mr. Bennett decided to give Mr. Netanyahu a “period of adjustment.”

The former prime minister welcomed Nicki Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, to the official residence of the prime minister, after his successor took office, a fact that caused a stir and criticism for showing contempt for the new government.

The eight-party alliance that formed the new government, led by Bennett and Jair Lapid, came to power in mid-June.

According to Israeli media, Mr. Bennett plans to spend the night four times a week at the official residence of the Prime Minister. His wife and four children plan to stay at their home in Ranaana, near Tel Aviv.

Mr. Netanyahu, the politician who has remained in the prime minister’s office more than anyone else in the history of the Jewish state, owns a private residence in the coastal city of Caesarea.

During his twelve years as prime minister, he lived with his family permanently in the official residence in Jerusalem, which he also used to receive foreign officials and leaders.