Israel’s Lapid calls on Netanyahu supporters to back alternative gov’t

Jerusalem, Jun 7 (EFE).- The leader of Israel’s centrist opposition Yair Lapid on Monday called on all Israelis, including supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu, to back his so-called government of change.

The motley alliance of parties spanning the breadth of Israel’s political spectrum, from the far-right and center to Arab parties, is looking to oust the long-serving prime minister from office but faces an uncertain immediate future and an incumbent unwilling to go without a fight.

“I want to speak to Netanyahu’s supports: I know that the formation of a unity government presents a crisis for some of you, but you will see that this government is not being built against your interests,” Lapid said during a meeting with members of his Yesh Atid party in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

The coalition pact envisages a rotation of prime ministers, starting with far-right Yamina leader Naftali Bennett during the first two years, and followed by Lapid, whose party is the second strongest in Israel with 17 seats in parliament.

The bid to remove Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister with an accumulated 15 years in office, comes at a time of deep polarization in the Knesset.

Bibi, as he is known to his followers, is working tirelessly to disrupt proceedings and convince right-wing members of the would-be coalition to jump ship, according to local analysts and media.

The proposed coalition has a slim majority of 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, meaning that just one flip could jeopardize its future.

Netanyahu, the leader of the right-wing Likud party, the Knesset’s largest, on Sunday reiterated his claims that the pact would be “dangerous” for the country.  EFE

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