ARAB AND WORLD
Tue 28 May 2024 11:42 am - Jerusalem Time
Israeli opposition leaders are discussing Wednesday the overthrow of Netanyahu's government
Leaders of Israeli opposition parties agreed to meet on Wednesday to discuss ways to overthrow Benjamin Netanyahu's government and form another, according to Hebrew media.
Israeli Channel 12 said on Monday evening: “The opposition leader, head of the There is a Future party (24 seats out of 120 in the Knesset), Yair Lapid, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party (6 seats), Avigdor Lieberman, and head of the New Hope Party (4 seats), Gideon Saar, announced this evening (Monday), they will meet on Wednesday, to discuss coordinating moves to overthrow the government.”
For its part, the newspaper "Israel Today" said that Lapid, Lieberman and Sa'ar will try to include Minister of the War Council Benny Gantz with them, and push him to leave the government even before the end of the deadline he set for Netanyahu.
On May 18, Gantz gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until June 8 to develop a clear strategy for the war and its aftermath, otherwise he will withdraw from the government.
Earlier Monday, during a meeting of his party's parliamentary bloc, Lieberman called on opposition leaders to "unite efforts and form a joint war room to work on changing the government."
Lieberman presented two options: the first, an alternative government in the Knesset (Parliament), and the other an agreed-upon date for holding early elections, according to the same source.
Lieberman also called on representatives of the Likud Party (32 seats), led by Netanyahu, to defect and join him.
"Israel" witnessed the last legislative elections on November 1, 2022, which resulted in the formation of a government headed by Netanyahu from the far religious and nationalist right in Israel, which officials, including US President Joe Biden, described as "the most extreme" in Israel's history.
With the outbreak of war against the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu’s government was expanded under the name “Emergency Government” and what was called the “War Council” was formed.
It is assumed that if early elections are not held, the next elections will be held in October 2026.
The Israeli opposition and a broad spectrum of Israeli society accuse Netanyahu of failing to achieve the goals of the war on Gaza and prolonging its duration to preserve his political survival, while wasting several opportunities to reach a deal to release the detainees.
Earlier on Monday evening, Netanyahu expressed in a speech in the Knesset his determination to continue the war on Gaza.
Commenting on Netanyahu's speech, Lapid asked in his speech on the Knesset podium: "Why are you still prime minister? Why don't you ask forgiveness from the people of Israel and return to your home?"
Addressing Netanyahu, he added: "You did not do your part. You failed. You are an illegitimate prime minister and this government is illegitimate."
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Israeli opposition leaders are discussing Wednesday the overthrow of Netanyahu's government