FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
JERUSALEM – The signal that they can succeed, that in seven to eight days the reign of Benjamin Netanyahu can implode, lies in the words of the prime minister in power for twelve years much more than in the announcements of his opponents. He repeats that entering a leftist government for a right-wing politician means capitulating; he warns that without him no one will defend the country from Hamas or Iran, that the Americans in Washington will not respect Israel. In fact, he knows he has until next week to convince the deputies closest to his ideology, to stop them before they push the green button and give their consent to the nascent coalition..
The signal that they can succeed, that Benjamin Netanyahu’s reign may implode in seven to eight days, lies in the words of the prime minister in power for twelve years, far more than in the announcements of his opponents. He repeats that entering a leftist government for a right-wing politician means capitulating; he warns that without him no one will defend the country from Hamas or Iran, that the Americans in Washington will not respect Israel. In fact, he knows he has until next week to convince the deputies closest to his ideology, to stop them before they push the green button and give their consent to the nascent coalition.
Thus the alliance brings together the nationalist right of Bennett, at the head of the settler party, and of Gideon Sa’ar, who escaped from Netanyahu’s Likud; the center represented by Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz; the historic left of Labor and Meretz. A pact cemented by the goal of removing the prime minister elected for the first time in 1996.
We must work as a group – says Bennett – to put Israel back on its natural path. We will focus on what can be accomplished instead of fighting all day about the impossible. The agreement with Lapid, which brings the largest number of seats as a dowry, provides for rotation: Bennett gets the first turn as premier, Lapid would be the deputy and the foreign minister, after two years the exchange of roles would arrive. Assuming that the pact holds out.
The coalition of change – as it defines itself – can count for now on 57 deputies of the 61 necessary for the majority: they are sufficient if the Arab parties abstain from voting confidence, the Islamist Ra’am formation is even evaluating external support, it would be the first time since 1976 for a group representing Israeli Arabs, 20 percent of the population.
Lapid, who received the mandate from the president, has until the day after tomorrow to present himself to Reuven Rivlin with the list of ministers and the assurance of having the numbers in the Knesset. On that same day the parliament elects the new head of state, it will not be Rivlin but his replacement who will attend the inauguration ceremony – if he happens – of the new government.
Bennett, 49, would be the first religious Zionist to lead one in the country’s history. American-born, millionaire after selling his cybersecurity company, settler chief who does not live in a colony, entered politics inspired by Netanyahu: as he served in the special forces, he named his son Yoni, in memory of the elder brother of the incumbent prime minister killed in the raid on Entebbe in Uganda, as he does not believe in an agreement with the Palestinians. Now Bibi accuses this ideological son of committing the fraud of the century.
May 30, 2021 (change May 30, 2021 | 21:32)
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