including the first arab party ever to join a government. translator: we are not enemies. we are one people. reporter: until the final moment, netanyahu was working to scuttle the government and hang on to power. in language echoing former u.s. president donald trump, israel s longest serving leader accused his rivals of the greatest fraud in the country s history. trump gave netanyahu major political gifts, recognition of jerusalem as the capital of israel, moving the american embassy to jerusalem, normalization agreements with some arab countries and more. it was never enough to get netanyahu what he craved, an outright election victory. netanyahu couldn t overcome a polarized electorate and the ongoing corruption trial in which he denied wrongdoing. he is leader of the opposition as he watches bennett lead the country into a new era of politics. so much of the last few years for netanyahu will be defined by his relationship with donald
benjamin netanyahu is edging towards the precipice, trying everything to stop a fall from power. so far, his calls for help are going unanswered. in the chamber of israel s parliament, those who are hatching a plan for his demise a once loyal ally and an opponent, forging friendship. they could be israel s next leaders. mr netanyahu s still doing everything he can to derail the formation of a new government, even as those politicians are still meeting in the building here. this is a prime minister determined to cling on. there he is, there he is, there he is. then israel s longest serving leader leaves his office, not yet for the final time. mr netanyahu, is this your last week as prime minister? will this be your last week as prime minister? is that a wish or a question? israel has had four deadlocked elections, mr netanyahu couldn t muster a right wing majority.
on trial for corruption, with a country divided, support from key coalition partners drained away. one rebel is naftali bennett, now set to lead the new government. he s a nationalist who opposes a future palestinian state. he s joined up with the centre ground opposition leader, yair lapid, who will become pm after two years. israel s recent war with hamas in gaza paused the political pressure. but violence between jews and arabs erupted inside israel. in the town of lod, things are still tense. so what of the challenge to bibi as mr netanyahu is known by naftali bennett? translation: it s disgusting. a man with six seats will be prime minister? it s unheard of. bibi is dividing us.
the same time, point to this government s inherent weakness. and remember that it s not all over yet. still for benjamin netanyahu it will be some long days before this government is finally sworn in, and in the meantime mr netanyahu and his party will do all they can to try and stop it. tom bateman in jerusalem. joining me now is dan arbell he s a veteran of the israeli foreign service and currently is a scholar in residence at the american university in washington. good to have you with us. what you make at this coalition, can it survive? it you make at this coalition, can it survive? it survive? it is an historic coalition. it survive? it is an historic coalition, definitely - coalition, definitely unprecedented in many, many aspects. it still has to jump over the hurdle of the knesset confidence vote in about a week or ten days and that is quite a challenge, but once it is on the ground and running it will be very difficult to manage it
welcome to bbc news, i m ben boulos our top stories. after days of frantic negotiations, a coalition of opposition parties signs an historic deal to form a new israeli government. the deal is likely to mean an end to israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu s 12 years in power. mr netanyahu, is this your last week as prime minister? will this be your last week as prime minister? is that a wish or a question? watching sport injapan face masks, temperature checks and polite applause instead of cheering. is this what the olympics will look like when they open in just 50 days time? back to venus nasa announces two new missions to the mysterious planet for the first time in decades. # hello, girl, hello, darling. # what s your name and what s your number? # beg your pardon?