ISRAEL FAR-RIGHT, CENTRIST COALITION SET TO UNSEAT NETANYAHU

A new coalition of a far-right and a centrist party that would unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his center-right Likud is taking shape in Israel, Sara Lemel reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Naftali Bennett of the pro-settler Yamina party said on Sunday that he would do everything possible to forge an alliance with Future Party leader Jair Lapid. Their proposed governing coalition would put Netanyahu and his Likud party out of government.

According to media reports, the top job at the helm of government is set to rotate. First, former defense secretary Bennett would be prime minister for two years, then it would be Lapid's turn.

Bennett said he is making the move after it became apparent that he could not form a right-wing coalition without outside support.

The only alternatives are to make Israel endure a fifth election since 2019 or to form a coalition with Lapid's party. Bennett said he would do anything to make the deal happen.

"The political crisis in Israel is without example worldwide," said Bennett, accusing Netanyahu of dangerously divisive politicking. If the plan succeeds, it would bring an end to the era of Netanyahu, who has been in office since 2009.

He was also prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and has been in the office longer than any other person in Israeli history.

Netanyahu quickly lashed out at Bennett's announcement, arguing that Bennett would be breaking a campaign promise in which he stated he would not enter into a coalition with Lapid.

Netanyahu warned of a "dangerous leftist government" and called for the creation of a "proper right-wing government."

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