Israel opposition parties agree to form new unity government

The right-wing Yamina party's Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, after reaching an agreement

Israeli opposition parties have reached an agreement to form a new government that would end Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year tenure as prime minister.

Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, announced an eight-faction coalition had been formed.

Under a rotation arrangement, the head of the right-wing Yamina party, Naftali Bennett, would serve as prime minister first before handing over to Mr Lapid.

Mr Netanyahu, however, attacked the new "left-wing" government as "dangerous".

In his first comments since the agreement was reached, Mr Netanyahu urged Knesset (parliament) members "elected by votes from the right" to oppose the coalition, which still needs to be approved by a parliamentary vote before being sworn in.

The vote is not expected to take place for some days, and there is still a chance this newly formed coalition could be upended by defections.

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In a statement, Mr Lapid said he had informed President Reuven Rivlin of the agreement, adding: "I pledge that this government will work in the service of all Israeli citizens, those who voted for it and those who did not.

"It will respect its opponents and do everything in its power to unite and connect all parts of Israeli society."

An image carried on Israeli media showed Mr Lapid, Mr Bennett and Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab Islamist Raam party, signing the agreement, a deal many thought impossible.

This is the first time in decades an Israeli Arab party has joined a governing coalition. Other parties representing Israeli Arabs - who make up 20% of the population - have said they will oppose a government led by Mr Bennett, who rejects the concept of a Palestinian state, AFP news agency reports.

Mr Abbas told reporters: "The decision was hard and there were several disputes but it was important to reach agreements." He said that there were "many things in this agreement for the benefit of Arab society".

No rational political enemy of Benjamin Netanyahu can underestimate his tenacity, ruthlessness and absolute determination to hold on to office. Until a new government with a new prime minister is sworn in, he will do all he can to stop it.

If he found himself leader of the opposition, he would do all he could to destabilise a coalition with a wafer-thin majority that would be trying to span the entire Israeli spectrum, from the nationalist right to the liberal left.

All that unites them is their desire to remove him from office.

Mr Netanyahu has already called the proposed new government the "fraud of the century". He says it endangers the state of Israel, the people of Israel, and the soldiers of Israel. However loudly he complains, the likelihood is that he is leaving office. In the end his defeat was sealed not by left-wing opponents but by fellow right-wingers he has made into enemies by his ruthless, high-handed tactics.

No-one should expect big, new initiatives from a new government. Just surviving the onslaught Mr Netanyahu is undoubtedly planning will be a full-time job. His opponents will be hoping that his fall will continue in the Jerusalem courthouse where he is already on trial on serious corruption charges.

In his note to the president, Mr Lapid said he would head the government alongside Mr Bennett, who he would replace as prime minister on 27 August 2023.

Mr Rivlin has called on parliament to convene as soon as possible to hold the confidence vote.

If the coalition fails to win the support of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, there is a risk of the country having to go to elections for the fifth time in two years.

The coalition members span the full spectrum of Israeli politics. The parties have little in common apart from their plan to replace Mr Netanyahu.

They are:

• Yesh Atid (centrist) - led by Yair Lapid (17 seats)

• Kahol Lavan (Blue and White) (centrist) - led by Benny Gantz (eight)

• Israel Beiteinu (centre-right to right-wing nationalist) - led by Avigdor Lieberman (seven)

• Labor (social-democratic) - led by Merav Michaeli (seven)

• Yamina (right-wing) - led by Naftali Bennett (seven)

• New Hope (centre-right to right-wing)- led by Gideon Sa'ar (six)

• Meretz (left-wing, social-democratic) - led by Nitzan Horowitz (six)

• Raam (Arab Islamist) - led by Mansour Abbas (four)

All eight factions were needed to pass the 61 majority figure.

Wednesday's marathon talks took place in a hotel near Tel Aviv, with a large number of issues - from legalising cannabis to fines for illegal construction to the rotation of judicial selection committee posts - all on the agenda.

Israeli media suggested that not all the elements were finalised, and this could still create doubts over whether the coalition will win its confidence vote.

Mr Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party won the most seats in March's inconclusive poll. He was given the first chance to form a government but was unable to build a viable coalition.

Mr Netanyahu had called the proposed new government the "fraud of the century", saying it endangered the state and people of Israel.