Netanyahu in Court as He Scrambles to Form a Cabinet albawaba.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from albawaba.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu recommends that Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid be tasked with forming the next coalition.
But, adds Liberman, “if we see [later on in the coalition-building process] that there’s another candidate who has a better chance, we won’t boycott anyone and we’ll support anyone to prevent a fifth election, it doesn’t matter who it is.”
“We won’t support Netanyahu. I think we must end his rule,” adds Liberman.
His endorsement brings Lapid’s backers to 39; Netanyahu’s to 46; Bennett’s to 7.
Liberman criticizes Netanyahu for Israel’s economic crisis, 6,000 deaths from the pandemic, and political deadlock.
Liat Ben Ari arrives at the District Court in Jerusalem, February 8, 2021 (Reuven Castro/Pool)
Netanyahu’s legal troubles have been inextricably linked to his premiership and to the country’s current political impasse, which has resulted in four elections in the past two years. Opponents have used the indictments against him as fodder for their campaigns and as a reason to not join a coalition with him, preventing Netanyahu from acquiring the 61 seats necessary to form a government as of Monday.
Netanyahu has also been accused by his rivals of making support for legislation granting him immunity a necessary requirement for entering his coalition.
0 shares
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is the victim of an attempted political coup, in remarks after the first day of evidence against him in his corruption trial, April 5, 2021. (GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday lashed out at state prosecutors after the first day of testimony in his corruption trial, accusing them of “hypocrisy” and of leading a “witch hunt” against him. He said the investigation and prosecution constitute an effort by police and prosecutors to “trample democracy” in Israel and subvert the will of the electorate.
He singled out lead prosecutor Liar Ben-Ari, who opened the prosecution case at Monday’s Jerusalem District Court hearing, claiming that while she had accused him in court of abuse of power, it was her prosecution team that had acted illegally.
Netanyahu trial: Prosecutor says PM illegitimately used power for personal, political gains haaretz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from haaretz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.