OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu on Thursday fought back against an agreement by his political
opponents for a government of left-wing, centrist, and right-wing parties aimed
at unseating him.
اضافة اعلان
Netanyahu, facing the prospect of an end to his 12-year run
as premier, said on Twitter "all legislators elected by votes from the
right must oppose this dangerous left-wing government," and he targeted historic
Arab participation in the coalition.
The right-wing leader mounted the social media attack the
day after centrist politician Yair Lapid's announcement, about 35 minutes
before a Wednesday night deadline, that he had succeeded in forming a governing
coalition.
Under the deal, nationalist Naftali Bennett, 49, a former defense
minister and a high-tech millionaire, would become prime minister and hand over
the post to Lapid, 57, a former TV host and finance minister, in about two
years.
A parliamentary session, in which the government can be
approved by a simple majority, could be up to 12 days away, far-right
politician Avigdor Lieberman, a member of the new coalition, said.
With parliament's speaker, a Netanyahu loyalist, widely
expected to try to ward off any legislative attempts to hold the vote earlier,
the prime minister could use the period to try to twist arms.
The coalition agreement capped a March 23 election in which
neither Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies nor their opponents won a
majority in the legislature. It was Israel's fourth national ballot in two
years.
The governing lineup comprises a patchwork of small and
medium parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time
in Israel's history one that represents its 21 percent Arab minority — the United Arab List (UAL).
On Twitter, Netanyahu — who once drew accusations of racism
by urging his supporters to get out and vote because "Arabs are flocking
to the polls in droves" — highlighted the new alliance's links with UAL
leader Mansour Abbas.
Netanyahu posted an old video clip of Bennett saying that
Abbas "visited terrorist murderers in jail".
Spokesmen for the United Arab List did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
Diverse lineup
Members of the prospective government have little in common
other than a desire to oust Netanyahu, who is also on trial on corruption
charges. He denies any wrongdoing.
The roster includes Bennett's Yamina (Rightward), center-left
Blue and White, headed by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the left-wing Meretz
and Labor parties, former defense minister Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael
Beitenu party and New Hope, a right-wing party headed by former education
minister Gideon Saar, who broke away from Likud.
Political analysts expect Netanyahu to try to pick off what
one described as "low-hanging fruit", seizing upon Yamina members who
are unhappy about joining forces with Arab and leftist lawmakers.
"We launched the move, but we haven't completed it.
There will be 12 days that won't be easy, and in the end, there will be a government,"
Lieberman said on Channel 13 TV.
Netanyahu controls 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset,
almost twice as many as Lapid's Yesh Atid party, and is allied with at least
three other religious and nationalist parties.
During his tenure as prime minister, Netanyahu has been a polarizing
figure at home and abroad. His rivals have cited the criminal charges against
him as a main reason why Israel needs a leadership change, arguing that he
might use a new term to legislate immunity to shield himself.
A source involved in the coalition talks said the proposed
new government would try to retain consensus by avoiding hot-button ideological
issues such as whether to annex or cede occupied West Bank territory that under
international law belongs to Palestinians. Bennett has in the past advocated
annexations.
"This government will focus mainly on economic
issues," Lieberman said.
Perhaps the most immediate test for a new administration is
passing the budget, an issue that has toppled coalitions in the past.
Due to the prolonged political deadlock, Israel is still
using a pro-rated version of a base 2019 budget that was approved in mid-2018.
There may be some big budgetary shifts since the government is without
ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that seek state funding for religious
institutions.
The new government, if it is sworn in, will face other
considerable challenges. As well as Iran and the moribund peace process with
the Palestinians, it also faces a war crimes probe by the International
Criminal Court and economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic.
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