A former ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, on Sunday said he would attempt to form a coalition government with the Israeli opponent leaders, taking a significant step to end the rule of the country’s longest-serving PM.
Leader of Yamina party and nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett’s dramatic announcement paved the way for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his Likud party into the opposition in the coming week.
While Bennett and his new allies, led by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still facing several obstacles, seemed to be serious about reaching a deal to end the stoppage that has immersed the country into four elections in the last two years.
After meeting his religious-nationalist Yamina party members, Bennett said he would do everything to form a national unity government with his friend Yair Lapid.
Both have until Wednesday to complete the pact in which each is likely to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation accord, with Bennett first holding the job.
Lapid and Bennett’s parties started talks on Sunday night to formalize the deal.
Bennett said there was no appropriate way after the March 23 election halt to form a right-wing government supported by Netanyahu. He said another election would give the same results, and it was time to end the cycle.
If Bennett and Lapid and their other allies can wrap up a pact, it would end the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics during the past three decades.
Netanyahu has served as prime minister of Israel for the last 12 years and held an earlier term in the late 1990s. Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right-wing and requested nationalist politicians not to join a “leftist government.
Netanyahu, who faces trial on fraud, bribery, and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political unrest that has seen four indecisive elections in under two years. Although Netanyahu is on trial, he is desperate to stay in power. He has used his office to rally his base and strike against the police, prosecutors, and the media.
A party leader must ensure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset or parliament to form a government because coalitions are mostly built with smaller allies. Thirteen different parties are in the current parliament.
As the largest party’s leader, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the country’s frontman president to form a coalition. But he was not able to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist partners.
Netanyahu even sought to court a small Islamist Arab party but was opposed by a small ultranationalist party with a racist anti-Arab agenda. Although Arabs make up some 20% of Israel’s population, an Arab party has never sat in an Israeli coalition government.
After Netanyahu’s failure to form a government, Lapid was given four weeks to secure together with a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task.
While Bennett’s party heads just seven seats in parliament, he appears as a kingmaker by providing the necessary support to secure a majority and If he succeeds, his party would be the smallest to head an Israeli government.
Lapid already faced a tough challenge with the broad range parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc that have very little in common. They include left-wing parties, a pair of right-wing nationalist parties, including Bennett’s Yamina, and most likely the Islamist United Arab List.
Lapid’s task became even more tough when war broke out with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on May 10. His coalition talks were put on hold over the 11 days of fighting.
Arab politicians have also been divided about joining a government led by Bennett, who supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians hope to create a state.
Even with support from an Arab party, a new coalition in Israel is not likely to repeal years of Israeli settlement construction or bring peace with Hamas in Gaza any time soon.
If the anti-Netanyahu wing does not accomplish to form a government on time, a majority of 61 lawmakers could vote to ask the president to name a new premier.
Yet again, another scenario would see the country return to the polls.
(Inputs from a syndicated feed)
