Image: Spectrum News
Faizel Patel – 03/06/2021
Israel’s opposition leaders have have moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid informed the country’s president Reuven Rivlin that he can form a coalition government, a move that would bring an end to Netanyahu’s 12 years in power.
The centrist Lapid told Rivlin in an email: “I am honored to inform you that I have succeeded in forming a government.”
Israel’s new coalition deal was signed by eight party leaders.
Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, was tasked with forming a government by Rivlin after Netanyahu again failed to put together his own coalition following Israel’s fourth election in less than two years.
Under the coalition agreement, Bennett, the 49-year-old tech millionaire and Lapid would rotate the role of prime minister, with Bennett taking up the post for the first two years and Lapid the final two.
The Washington Post reports that the agreement still needs to be voted on in the Knesset before the government can be sworn in.
To reach a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, the unlikely alliance would also have to include several other left and right-wing parties and would need the support of Arab-Israeli politicians.
The vote is expected to be held within seven to 12 days,
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