Israel: Naftali Bennett announced negotiations for the formation of a coalition government with the centrist opposition Yair Lapid

The leader of the Israeli religious party Yamina, Naftali Bennett, announced on Sunday an agreement to negotiate the formation of a coalition government including the centrist party Yesh Atid and whose main objective is to displace the outgoing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, from the conservative party Likud.

“I will do my best to form a unity government with my friend Yair Lapid” to end Netanyahu’s government, the longest in the history of the State of Israel, Bennett said, after meeting with his party, Yamina.

Following Bennett’s statements, Netanyahu, who served for 12 consecutive years after a previous three-year term, he attacked the plan, declaring that an opposition coalition would constitute a “danger to the security” of Israel.

Israel has organized four legislative elections in less than two years, neither has succeeded in separating Netanyahu from his rivals or resulted in a stable government.

After the last elections, in March, the Israeli president Reuven rivlin gave Netanyahu, whose party Likud (right) ended in first position, the mandate to form a government.

But the outgoing Prime Minister failed to bring together the 61 deputies required, of the 120 of the chamber, to form a government.

the Centrist Lapid was then tasked with forming a unity government bringing together left, center and right, within a deadline that expires on Wednesday, June 2. at 11:59 p.m. local time (8:59 p.m. GMT), otherwise you run the risk of going to a new election.

“It would be the fifth elections or a unity government”Bennett, who said it was not “possible” at this time to form a right-wing government “under the rule of Netanyahu”.

Lapid, 57, is looking for a a diverse alliance that the Israeli media have called a bloc for “change”, which would include Bennett and Arab-Israeli lawmakers.

In his determination to overthrow the intransigent Prime Minister, Lapid offered to share the power and let BennettThe 49-year-old is serving his first term as prime minister on a rotational basis.

The nationalist religious Yamina won seven seats in the March 23 election, but one member refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition.

The previous Sunday he had tried to hold on to power by offering his latest power-sharing deal to several former allies, including Bennett.

He warned that otherwise Israel would be ruled by a dangerous “left” alliance.

What would the coalition look like

A Lapid government would also include the centrist party Blue and white Benny Gantz and the radical New Hope party of Netanyahu’s former ally, Gideon Saar.

The Yisrael Beitenu feast of Avigdor Liebermanas well as the historically powerful Labor and Peace Party Meretz they would also join.

The fragile arrangement would need the endorsement by some Arab-Israeli legislators of Palestinian origin pass a confirmation vote in parliament.

Intense conversations follow weeks of intense tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day rocket exchange from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes.

The war with Hamas that ended in a truce on May 21, along with violence in the West Bank and mixed Judeo-Arab towns in Israel, initially seemed to leave Netanyahu more likely to retain power.

Netanyahu’s Likud won 30 seats in the March election, but failed to form a governing coalition after its far-right partners refused to sit down with Arab factions or receive their support.

Netanyahu had previously pushed for another election, Israel’s fifth in just over two years.

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