The new developments could possibly end the rule of the country’s longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Sunday, Israeli nationalist hardliner and former Defence Minister Naftali Bennett announced that he would would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country’s longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ahead of the Wednesday deadline, lawmakers who aren’t in favour of Netanyahu have been in intense talks as a ceasefire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
71-year-old Netanyahu, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, haa stuck to the power despite a political turmoil caused by four inconclusive elections in under two years. Netanyahu denies all the allegations against him.
Though the vote in March saw Likud, Netanyahu’s party, gaining the most seats but he again failed to form a government.
Yair Lapid, opposition leader and former TV anchor, now has until Wednesday evening to build a rival coalition.
Lapid is looking to weave a diverse alliance the Israeli media has called a bloc for “change”, which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers.
In his bid to unseat Netanyahu, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership.
After meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, Bennett said on Sunday: “I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid.”
In a statement, they said Lapid and Bennett’s parties started talks on Sunday night to formalise the deal.
Netanyahu, who has been the Prime Minister 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”.
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