Yair Lapid could be potentially replacing Netanyahu as Israeli Prime Minister

Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon, AFP

Israel's Far-right Hardline-Zionist leader  Naftali Bennett said Sunday he would join a potential coalition government which would mean an end to Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery, and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years.

Opposition leader and former TV anchor Yair Lapid now have until Wednesday evening to build a rival coalition.

Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the Israeli media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers.

In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership.

Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid."

Lapid and Bennett’s parties started talks on Sunday night to formalize the deal, they said in a statement.

Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition.

Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel".

Publish : 2021-05-31 12:53:00

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