Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s former prime minister, formally left his official Jerusalem house early on Sunday, over a month after being deposed by his successor, Naftali Bennett.
“The Netanyahu family left the residence on Balfour [Street] just after midnight,” a spokeswoman for the family said in a statement.
Over the weekend, moving trucks were seen outside the house, and black Audi automobiles were seen being dragged away.
Netanyahu, a hawkish politician who led Israel for 12 years after a three-year term, stayed in office longer than any other prime minister in the country’s history.
Even though he faced charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust, he stayed in office. He disputes the allegations, claiming they are part of a left-wing campaign against him.
He led Israel through four acrimonious elections in less than two years until being deposed on June 13 by right-wing nationalist Bennett, who was sworn in to lead an ideologically diverse coalition.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, did not quit his prime ministerial house.
Instead, he continued to host guests such as Nikki Haley, who served as the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump’s presidency.
Netanyahu and Bennett’s offices confirmed a definitive date for Bennett’s departure in late June: Saturday, July 10.
Netanyahu departed shortly after midnight on Sunday, a few hours after the deadline he had agreed to.
On Sunday, the group “Crime Minister,” which has staged weekly protests outside Netanyahu’s mansion for more than a year, insulted him.
On Facebook, the group commented, “The defendant and his family left as the last of the thieves in the night.”
On Sunday, Bennett will take over the prime minister’s house.
