A new coalition is challenging Israel’s longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his far-right former ally Naftali Bennett announced he would join forces with former TV anchor-turned-politician Yair Lapid.
Lapid’s efforts to replace Netanyahu were already in play before negotiations for a new government were derailed by the most recent conflict on May 10.
Over 11 days, Israel intensively bombed the Gaza Strip while Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules the besieged enclave, shot rockets towards Israel.
Following an Egypt-brokered ceasefire on May 20, lawmakers kicked talks into high gear ahead of a Wednesday deadline where they have to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office.
El líder del centrista Yesh Atid ha recibido el mandato de intentar formar Gobierno en Israel, tras el fracaso del actual primer ministro. Complicado pero factible.
Yair Lapid, un pugilista de centro,pide turno en Israel lavanguardia.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lavanguardia.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
JERUSALEM (NYTIMES) - Mr Yair Lapid, the centrist politician and former media celebrity whose party took second place in Israel s March election, had pledged to forgo the premiership if that s what it would take to form a coalition of diverse parties that could oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
The unusual exercise in political humility stemmed not from modesty, but from the difficulties he knew he would face in mustering enough parliamentary support to form an alternative government.
Now, after Mr Netanyahu failed to form a viable coalition by Tuesday s midnight deadline, Mr Lapid s political skills and sincerity will be put to the test.