Israel is moving towards a government without Netanyahu …

Political negotiations intensified in Israel on Sunday, a few days after the expiration of the mandate to form a coalition government which it could mark the end of the Netanyahu era. The ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett, whose Yamina party is essential to tip the balance of government formation, announced his support for the opposition bloc led by centrist Yair Lapid. After Israel went to four elections in just two years, in the midst of a long political blockade and with a prime minister who failed to put together an executive with the right-wing bloc, the only current scenarios are “a fifth election” or “create a unity government” that avoids itwarned Bennett, who was determined to “take responsibility”.

This computer entrepreneur who is today at the forefront of the Yamina movement won seven legislative seats on March 23. But one of the party members has already indicated that he will not collaborate with the anti-Netanyahu camp. Yes indeed, the bloc will still have to convince four other deputies to reach the necessary majority of 61 seats, and that’s why could turn to Israeli Arab parties, who have not yet expressed their position.

It has been speculated that the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas could strengthen Netanyahu and improve his chances of remaining in power. Accused of corruption in three different cases, “Bibi” was quick to react to Bennett’s announcement accusing him of committing the “fraud of the century”. and “betray” right-wing voters.

“At this decisive moment, we must take responsibility. I intend to do everything in my power to form a government of national unity with my friend Yair Lapid”, announced at a press conference Bennett. Netanyahu’s former defense minister once again rejected the formation of a right-wing coalition led by the prime minister, who has been in power in Israel for more than a decade.

“This attempt failed because we didn’t believe the promises they made to usBennett said of Netanyahu’s desperate proposal. According to local media, Bennett and Lapid to negotiate acting executive to head government. The former would serve as prime minister for the first two years and the centrist would replace him for the latter two.

Bennett made his fortune in technology and entered politics relatively late. But since 2013, this militant of “religious nationalism” has held five ministerial portfolios. Former protege of Netanyahu, the 49 year old businessman represents an ultra-nationalist and right-wing current favorable to the colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories, and economically ultra-liberal, an ideology difficult to put in phase with that of the other parties necessary in the so-called “coalition of change”.

Just minutes after Bennett’s words were known, Netanyahu came out with the hats to blame his rival and former ally for launching “the fraud of the century.” “Instead of creating a dangerous left-wing government, ‘we could create a right-wing executive’ with a rotating head of government. with Bennett himself and conservative Guideon Saar, Netanyahu said. But Saar, a former Likud activist, said on Twitter that he was not interested and wanted to continue his plan: “to replace Netanyahu’s regime.”

“It’s very unconventional and quite twisted, but the possibility of a left-wing government is even worse,” Netanyahu insisted, adding that a majority of Israelis voted for a right-wing government because it is. ” the best for security and the future. Israel “.

Bennett’s decision, with seven seats with his Yamina lineup, comes three days after Lapid’s deadline for forming a government expired.. The latter’s party, Yesh Atid, was the second most voted (17 seats) behind Netanyahu’s Likud, which reached 30 seats in the March 23 general election.

Lapid has a mandate to form a government after the failure of Netanyahu, the first to receive this commission from President Rivlin. In any case, the “change bloc” still does not have enough support to form an executive, for which it would need the support of the Joint List or the Islamist Raam, two Arab parties. It would be an unprecedented step in Israel, because Arab-Israeli formations representing communities of Palestinian origin in the country have never before supported cabinets made up of right-wing parties and often marked by anti-Arab rhetoric.

Although the next few hours are fundamental, What happened this Sunday seems to mark another step towards the end of the era of Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history. 25 years ago, “Bibi” defeated Labor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres and became Prime Minister for three years. In 2009, he returned to power and he has not left since.