Tel Aviv; 03 June 2021 (UMMN): Netanyahu rivals, led by secular centrist politician Yair Lapid, formally declared a coalition with sufficient parliamentary backing to form a government less than an hour before the midnight deadline, avoiding a fifth election.
Lapid informed Israeli President Reuven that he had formed a coalition consisting of at least 61 seats in the Knesset, but the new government will not be sworn in until later this month due to the Knesset’s recess.
Lapid, 57, a former television host, leads the largest party in the grouping that includes a party representing Palestinian citizens of Israel.
According to the agreement, Naftali Bennett, 49, who heads a small hardline party that played a kingmaker role in forming the coalition, is to serve as the Prime Minister for next two years. Lapid will become PM for the following two years of the term.
“This government will work for all the citizens of Israel, those that voted for it and those that didn’t… It will do everything to unite Israeli society.” Lapid wrote on Twitter shortly before midnight.
According to Los Angeles Times, Bennett is a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood who has ardently supported the Jewish settlement movement in the West Bank, and his decision to partner with the centrist Lapid illustrated the intense degree of public frustration with Netanyahu, who is on trial for bribery and fraud.
Critics from across the political spectrum have expressed fears that Netanyahu, who has served a total of 15 years as prime minister, could somehow derail the ceremonial handover of power, with a possibility of violence by his most ardent supporters.
Avigdor Lieberman, a former defense minister under Netanyahu, said that he could envision a turn of events akin to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Trump, reported Los Angeles Times.
Several of Netanyahu’s foes have been placed under enhanced protection from the Shin Bet domestic security service this week, after Netanyahu’s backers unleashed a torrent of threats.
