Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year term as
prime minister. Before the deadline of midnight (21:00 GMT), Yar Lipid of the
centrist Yash Party has made several deals. But more importantly, they have not
yet reached a final agreement with right-wing nationalist politician Naftali
Bennett. Israeli opposition parties have just hours to form a new government
that will end Mr. Bennett is expected to take over as prime minister before Mr
Lapid. Mr. Netanyahu and his Likud party have been
urging fellow right-wing politicians not to join the coalition, knowing the new
government will face a vote of confidence in parliament before being sworn in. If
it fails to win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, it risks running for a
fifth term in two years.
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Opposition
leaders said Wednesday morning that after intense, overnight talks, they had
stepped up their efforts to form what is being called a "government of
change." Mr. Lapid and Mr. Bennett were later seen whispering and smiling in
Parliament to elect a new president. Isaac Herzog - A former leader of the
left-wing Labor Party at the center, who is currently the head of a Jewish agency responsible for Jewish immigration to Israel will take on a largely
formal role.
Mr. Netanyahu, meanwhile, received a number of reactions when asked by a BBC journalist if this was his last week as prime minister: "Is this a wish or a question?" He asked. As the deadline approached, Israeli media reported that a number of differences were preventing coalition agreements with the three parties from being finalized. Ram's leader, Mansour Abbas is said to have demanded that the coalition agree to repeal a law that imposes fines on illegal construction, which Israeli Arabs say disproportionately to them. Is targeted. There was also a disagreement between Yasmina's deputy leader, Elliott Shocked, and Labor leader, Mirwa Michael, over a position on the Knesset's judicial appointment committee. Both have offered to tour the spot, but only if they serve first. Mr. Lapid has already finalized agreements with Labor, the left-wing Meretz Party, Defense Minister Benny Gentz's Center Blue and White Party, and Avigdor Lieberman's right-wing nationalist Israel Beitino. The eight parties have nothing in common politically except their own plan to replace Mr. Netanyahu. He says he should not remain in the office during the trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu called on
right-wing politicians not to join the so-called "left-wing
government" which would be a "threat to Israel's security and
future." Mr. Bennett had earlier accused him of "trying to take over
the entire national camp, and the whole country, on his personal last
stand." Four rounds of elections and [the last two] months have proved to
all of us that Netanyahu is not the only right-wing government headed by
Netanyahu. This is the fifth election or the coalition government," he
said. His Likud party won the most seats in the March general
election, giving the 71-year-old prime minister his first chance to form a
government. However, he was unable to do so before his mandate expired last
month. If Mr. Lapid does not set a deadline of Wednesday night, Nauset will have
three weeks to agree on a prime ministerial candidate. Otherwise, there will be
another general election, continuing a long period of political stalemate.
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