Prime Minister Naftali Bennett does not believe the coalition government will last long enough for Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to become premier, Channel 12 News reported Thursday.
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"I believe that the rotation will not happen," Bennett was quoted by Channel 12 News as saying in a closed meeting.
"There is a considerable chance the government will dissolve between the budget and the time of the change of power, for various reasons," he said.
When asked about the report, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed Bennett had made the remark but said the prime minister would honor the rotation nonetheless.
"The partnership with Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is based on mutual trust and fairness," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, according to Channel 12 News.
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"Ahead of the passage of the budget, which guarantees the stability of the government, there are predictable reports of various quotes from various times that were only … appraisals."
"The budget will pass, and the partnership will continue," the office said.
In a statement, Lapid said, "Both Bennett and I have one goal – to pass a budget and bolster the government. I won't be distracted by leaks and recordings aimed only at doing harm. I don't deal with nonsense.
"They won't succeed in souring the good atmosphere in the government. We will continue to work well together for the good of the State of Israel," he said.
In June, Lapid and Bennett agreed to a rotation deal for the premiership that will see the Yesh Atid party leader take over the role of Israel's prime minister in August 2023.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
