Faced with the threat of an ouster after a lengthy stint in power, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against the formation of a "left wing government" which could "threaten the future and security of Israel". On Sunday, Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina party, had made a surprising announcement that he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli PM's opponents headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid. Netanyahu does not have a clear majority as the March general elections had ended in a stalemate. Netanyahu's possible dethronement comes amid armed conflict with Palestine, and a long array of corruption charges levelled against him.
"Don't form a left wing government. Such a government is a danger to Israel's security and future," said Netanyahu, according to the BBC, accusing Bennett of "misleading the public" and of carrying out "the fraud of the century".
In his televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. Despite his electoral dominance, Netanyahu has become a polarising figure since he was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in late 2019. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule, and each ended in deadlock.
Israel's domestic politics
In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the country's figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies. Netanyahu even attempted to court a small Islamist Arab party but was thwarted by a small ultranationalist party.
The Bennett-Lapid coalition, if it comes to fruition, will include a broad range of parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc, with dovish left wing parties, a pair of right wing nationalist parties and most likely the Islamist United Arab List.
Will the change in leadership herald a change in approach to Palestine? Not likely. Bennett, a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior cabinet posts, shares the prime minister's hard-line ideology. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Yet he has had a strained and complicated relationship with his one-time mentor due to personal differences.
-Inputs from agencies
