Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Finally Ousted, Will It Stick?

After years of trying Netanyahu Rivals Agree to Form a New Government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rivals agreed to form a coalition government that would dislodge the country’s longest-serving leader, a major political shake-up as the nation seeks to protect a fragile truce with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

If the government is sworn in within the next two weeks, Mr. Netanyahu would cede power to the most diverse coalition in Israel’s history, including an independent Arab party for the first time. Yair Lapid, who leads the centrist Yesh Atid party, and Naftali Bennett, who heads the right-wing Yamina party, will team up with six other parties, including one of Israel’s Arab parties, Raam, according to a statement from Mr. Lapid.

“The government will do everything it can to unite every part of Israeli society,” Mr. Lapid said late Wednesday. The parliament by law has about 12 days to swear in the government after Mr. Lapid notifies the president.

Not a Done Deal

Netanyahu has a 12-day period in which to convince members of parliament to change their minds.

If not the deal has Lapid and Bennett alternating as Prime Minister for two years each. 

Israel has had 4 nonconclusive elections since 2019 in which no party was able to build a majority.

Netanyahu is on trial for corruption complicating matters. It will be a lot easier to convict him when he is no longer prime minister. 

Odd Mix

 A defection of two could kill the new coalition deal. Some want to negotiate with Hammas, some don’t. The same applies to more land annexations. And an Arab party is part of the coalition as well.  

The only thing this odd group has in common is extreme dislike of Netanyahu.

As such, the coalition cannot possibly last very long. Can it last long enough to convict or permanently oust Netanyahu?

That’s the key question.

Mish