Yair Lapid
The documents include proposed changes to the country’s basic laws, designed to prevent Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett from bolting the new government and to ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot again serve as premier.
Israel’s emerging coalition is the “biggest election deceit in Israeli history,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The initiative, which lacked the necessary support within the coalition-in-formation, comes on the heels of Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid’s announcement of his ability to form the next government.
“This looks to me like a car with four different wheels, and every wheel is going in a different direction,” said Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Mordechai Kedar. “The only thing they agree upon is the need to get rid of [Benjamin] Netanyahu. This objective will be achieved in the first minute of this government.”
It is expected to be comprised of seven parties spanning the political spectrum from left, center and right, including the first time that an Arab party will play a role in forming an Israeli government.
He would become prime minister for two years before yielding the top job to Lapid in a rotation • New government would unseat Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 straight years as Israel’s premier.
It remains unclear how Lapid could bring together the disparate group of parties spanning the entire Israeli political spectrum from the left, right, religious, secular and even Arab parties, who have never backed an Israeli government.
Reports indicate that as the head of the second-largest party in the Knesset, he is the likely choice. Naftali Bennett is also a possibility.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blames Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich’s “provocations” against the Ra’am Party after the opposition wins control of the Arrangements Committee.
Shas Party leader urges MKs to support the measure to break Israel’s political stalemate • Yair Lapid calls to form “Israeli unity government.”
Amid rising pressure to enter coalition talks with Netanyahu, Religious Zionist Party head insists he will never join a government backed by the Ra’am Party.
“My goal is to replace Netanyahu and maintain the national camp’s power,” says Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett, who has emerged as a “kingmaker” in the upcoming post-Knesset-election political battle.
