Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family were completing their departure from the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem on Friday, after 12 years living in the house on Balfour Street.

Moving trucks were seen at the residence earlier this week. On Friday, Channel 12 reported that several vehicles were seen departing the residence — apparently cars belonging to Netanyahu’s motorcade as opposition leader.

Netanyahu’s departure comes nearly a whole month after he was ousted from power, in line with an agreement he reached with new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

There is no law dictating how quickly a former prime minister must leave the residence.

In the past this has been done within a few short days, but the Netanyahu family has twice taken long weeks to do so — following Netanyahu’s 1999 election defeat and again now.

Some voices within the new coalition have called for legislation to set out a mandated departure deadline for the future.

Bennett is now expected to begin using the residence.

The prime minister reportedly plans for his family to stay in their hometown of Ra’anana during the week, while he uses the official residence for meetings. They may join him in Jerusalem on weekends.

Meanwhile the Netanyahus will move to their private Caesarea home, while security upgrades are made at their private Jerusalem home, at which point the opposition leader plans to spend much of his time there.

Source: TOI