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A new coalition is challenging Israel’s longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his far-right former ally Naftali Bennett announced he would join forces with former TV anchor-turned-politician Yair Lapid.
Lapid’s efforts to replace Netanyahu were already in play before negotiations for a new government were derailed by the most recent conflict on May 10.
Over 11 days, Israel intensively bombed the Gaza Strip while Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules the besieged enclave, shot rockets towards Israel.
Following an Egypt-brokered ceasefire on May 20, lawmakers kicked talks into high gear ahead of a Wednesday deadline where they have to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office.
Raoul Wootliff is the The Times of Israel s political correspondent.
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman visits at the Assuta hospital in Ashdod on February 23, 2021 (Flash90)
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman on Sunday said he’ll recommend that the leader of the largest party, apart from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, form the next government after the elections later this month.
Liberman made the comment at Channel 12’s annual Influencer’s Conference, effectively signaling he could back Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid as prime minister.
Lapid is currently polling in second place at 20 seats, well ahead of New Hope and Yamina. Netanyahu’s Likud is polling in first place, around 29 seats, but lacks a clear path to forming a government.