Israeli Affairs

Lapid informs Israeli president he can form new government

Opposition leader Yair Lapid tells Israeli president he can form a coalition government that would end Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year rule.

Jerusalem24 – Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he officially informed the country’s president that he has reached agreements with political allies to form a new coalition government.

Lapid, of the centrist Yesh Atid party, reached a historic deal with Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, to form the coalition shortly before a midnight (21:00 GMT) deadline on Wednesday.

Lapid’s main partner is far-right nationalist Naftali Bennett, and the pair have reached an agreement to rotate the prime minister position.

Their coalition government includes parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time in Israel’s history a party that represents the country’s 21-percent Palestinian minority.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the Israeli parliament, in a vote that is expected to take place as early as next week. If it goes through, Lapid and his partners will end Benjamin Netanyahu’s record-setting, 12-year rule.

Bennett, head of the right-wing Yamina party, is to serve as the next Israeli prime minister and Lapid will serve as alternate prime minister, the president’s office has said.

Mohammad Hamayel

Ramallah based journalist, Mohammad graduated from Al-Quds University with a B.A. in Media and Television. He has covered the 2015 Jerusalem Intifada as well as the Great March of Return for international media outlets. currently an editor/presenter at Jerusalem24. A UN alumni and a follower of global events and politics, especially American affairs.

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