Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Rivals Edge Toward Ousting Him

(Bloomberg) -- Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents moved closer to ousting Israel’s longest-serving prime minister after an erstwhile ally said he would join them in forming an alternative government.

Naftali Bennett, a pro-settlement security hawk who’s served under Netanyahu in various cabinet positions, said he intended to “work with all my might” to form a “government of change” with former Finance Minister Yair Lapid.

Bennett’s announcement was a dramatic reversal from his decision to pull out of talks with Lapid during Israel’s 11-day war with Gaza this month. It is one of the strongest challenges yet to Netanyahu, who has been prime minister for 15 of the past 25 years, and has sought to cling onto power to shield himself from multiple corruption charges.

The coalition Lapid is trying to cobble together would ally nationalists, centrists and leftists, secular and religious, Arab and Jew in the most unlikely alliance in the annals of Israeli politics, all of them driven by a desire to replace the 71-year-old Netanyahu, who is facing trial in a Jerusalem court.

Four inconclusive elections in two years have shown that Israel cannot form a right-wing government, “and anyone who says differently is telling you a baldfaced lie,” Bennett said. Lapid is due to make a statement on the progress later on Monday, his party said in a statement.

“I will work to the utmost to form a national unity government together with my friend Yair Lapid,” Bennett said. The two would be expected to share power if they manage to clinch enough support in parliament for their government, with Bennett expected to serve first as premier.

Lapid has until midnight Wednesday to present a formal coalition agreement to President Reuven Rivlin.

Anti-Netanyahu Bloc Dealt Blow as Bennett Drops Coalition Talks

Even with Bennett’s Yamina party, Netanyahu’s opponents would be four short of a parliamentary majority of 61 lawmakers and would have to rely on the support of an Arab party, a rare development in Israeli politics.

The United Arab List, headed by Mansour Abbas, has resumed coalition talks with Lapid after also suspending its participation during the Gaza war.

Netanyahu Tells Arab Citizens They’re Not Real Israelis

Israel has been in a state of political turmoil ever since Netanyahu brought down the government in December 2018 and put in motion a cascade of elections and one short-lived government. The anti-Netanyahu bloc was tapped to try to piece together a government after the prime minister failed following the last round of balloting on March 23.

Retaining power offers Netanyahu his only chance of halting his corruption trial, through the passage of legislation shielding incumbent leaders from prosecution. He says he’s done nothing wrong and is the victim of a political witch hunt by leftist opponents.

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