Unprecedented 8-party coalition poised to oust Netanyahu

Jerusalem, Jun 13 (EFE).- Israel’s parliament is poised to vote in a new government on Sunday, an unlikely and unprecedented eight-way coalition that has been formed to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s longest-ever serving prime minister.

The power-sharing deal agreed earlier this month will see a rotation of prime ministers, starting with the far-right Yamina party leader, Naftali Bennett, and head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, Yair Lapid.

If the proposed coalition wins the vote, Bennett, a successful businessman turned settler leader, will adopt a religious ultranationalist agenda during his time as prime minister until 2023.

Then, former journalist Lapid, known for his secular position and more conciliatory discourse, will take over until 2025.

Bennett and Lapid are also to split the job of foreign minister.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, who almost dethroned Netanyahu in three straight elections, will keep his position as defense minister.

Avigdor Lieberman, former defense minister and leader of Yisrael Beitenu, will take the finance minister post.

The Soviet-born Israeli politician was part of Netanyahu’s Likud party in the late 1990s and played a key role in the dissolution of the 2018 government.

Head of the right-wing New Hope party Gideon Sa’ar, another former associate of Netanyahu, will be appointed minister of justice.

Netanyahu, who is facing bribery and fraud charges, has been trying to convince members of the “change bloc” to swap sides in a bid to prevent the new government from being sworn in.

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

The Sunday Knesset session is also set to see the parliament vote for a new speaker.

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