Jerusalem – Benjamin Netanyahu’s run as the longest-serving Israeli prime minister may be coming to an end.
Naftali Bennet, leader of the small right-wing party Yamina, announced Sunday evening he is working toward a coalition agreement with Yair Lapidi, leader of the centrist party Yesh Atid, to join a new government.
This is a seismic event in Israeli politics, and if the coalition is sworn in, it would bring an end to Netanyahu’s 12 years as prime minister.
In an address on Sunday, Bennett told Israelis he is joining the new government to prevent a fifth round of elections and “rescue the country from spin.”
“After four elections and a further two months, it has been proven to all of us that there is simply no right-wing government possible that is headed by Netanyahu. It is either a fifth election or a unity government,” said Bennett.
He dismissed suggestions that the coalition, which would include a wide swath of parties, would be a left-wing government, instead paying tribute to the readiness of potential partners in the coalition to allow him to become Israeli’s leader.
“The left is making difficult compromises to allow me … to become prime minister,” he said, adding, “This government will not do disengagement nor will it hand over territories, nor will it be afraid to launch a military operation if required.”
A short while thereafter, Netanyahu made a statement of his own, denouncing the Yamina party leader as a man who cared about nothing other than becoming prime minister.
He also reminded Israelis that before march election Bennet had said he would not sit in a government led by Lapid, Netanyahu said his right-wing rival’s principles did not have the weight of a feather.
Bennett was trying to pull off the “deception of the century”, said Netanyahu.
