Former Israeli political leaders fighting former Prime Minister Benjamin Benjamin Netanyahu are rushing for a final day of talks to form a coalition led by freedom fighters.
He has a minute to midnight (20:59 GMT) Wednesday to include a group of supervisors who could complete a 12-year term in office with Israel’s prime minister.
The story is led by former TV presenters Yair Without, national centrist, who Sunday he won the necessary support of the right-wing religious wings Naftali Bennett, millions of artisans.
Lapid is scheduled to announce by 11:00 am (08:00 GMT) Wednesday to form a government, Israel Channel 12 was announced late Tuesday.
The Times of Israel also reported that Lapid’s goal was for a Knesset speaker to prepare for a vote on June 9.
To achieve 61 seats out of the Knesset’s 120 seats, Lapid and Bennett’s unexpected alliance must also include other left-wing and right-wing parties – and they may need to be supported by parties representing the Palestinian citizens of Israel.
This could lead to a conflict of interest on the issue of trade unions, such as the illegal occupation of the West Bank by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the role of religion in politics.
Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party, was given the task of forming a government by President Reuven Rivlin after Netanyahu failed to win a majority in the run-up to the fourth Islamic election in less than two years.
Lapid says he has agreed to allow Bennett, who leads the Yamina party, to become the first prime minister in a power-sharing deal, before taking office.
On Wednesday, Knesset re-elected the country’s next President, a key role that should be a national compass and promote unity.
The “grand goal”
Israel’s last political upheaval has added to the pressure on Netanyahu, who is accused of theft, corruption and trespassing in office – which he denies.
It also follows the latest to fight a war between Israel and Palestinian forces in the besieged Gaza Strip, which ended 11 days after the deadly violence and their suspension from Egypt on May 21.
Israeli bomb blast kills at least 253 Palestinians in Gaza. At least 12 people have been killed in Israel by rockets fired by militants in Gaza.
Netanyahu, who held office for three years in the 1990s, had warned Sunday of “a dangerous left-wing government in Israel”.
The prime minister, who heads Likud’s right-wing party and is known to be a smart politician, has been battling to end the alliance.
Likud’s lawyers tried to undermine the forthcoming agreement by challenging Bennett’s first right to be Prime Minister, as it was Lapid who was accused of forming a government.
But a legal adviser to the president of Israel brought down the difficulties. Opposition groups called for Bennett and his right-wing allies to cast their ballots.
Lapid and Bennett spokespersons confirmed to the AFP news agency that the pair had received additional protection.
Lapid said on Monday that obstacles remained to build the alliance, but added: “This is our first test – to see if we can come up with a clever idea in the future to achieve a bigger goal.”
To formulate a bloc against Netanyahu, Lapid must sign agreements with seven parties, whose members will vote in parliament to ratify their agreement.
They include the New Hope Hawkish party of Netanyahu’s former ally Gideon Saar and the Avigdor Lieberman self-defense group that forms the Yisrael Beitenu party.
The centrist Blue and White party of Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the powerful left-wing party at the end of Labor and the Meretz dovish party have also joined.
Supporting the Palestinian Party?
If the parties sign, the forthcoming agreement may need to be supported by four other legislators.
To cross the border, Lapid is waiting for parties representing Palestinian citizens in Israel.
Entering a hotel near Tel Aviv for talks Tuesday, Mansour Abbas, the leader of the four-seat United Arab List, said his party would join the alliance, Israeli journalists said.
The Abbas Party, which differs from the Joint List, which is made up of many Palestinian parties, is focused on ending the alliance with Yamina, and the second, Ayelet Shaked, said Haaretz of Israel.
“Shaked is expected to be elected interior minister in the future, and Abbas hopes to nominate a lawmaker from his party as his deputy,” Haaretz said.
Abbas has spoken openly about any arrangements that contribute to the well-being of Palestinian citizens in Israel, who make up 20% of Israel.
Political analyst Afif Abu Much said on Tuesday that Abbas does not pursue a cabinet post, but wants to chair two parliamentary committees and budgets for Palestinian territories.
He also wanted to repeal a law that has tightened sanctions on illegal construction, which seems to affect the Palestinian territories unequivocally.
Abbas told reporters Tuesday that the talks appear to be “going well” and said: “Until it is over, nothing has been finalized.”
Meanwhile, Hadash, one of the three Joint List allies, said on Tuesday that the three legislators would vote for the government they want, Israeli journalists said.
Balad, another party on the Joint List, a lawmaker in the Knesset also claimed to have voted against the government, Haaretz said.
Ahmad Tibi’s Ta’al, a third member of the Joint List with two MPs, did not qualify for the ruling.
If Lapid fails to elect a majority, and lawmakers fail to elect a new prime minister, Israel could return to the polls.
