Source: Politics<\/p>\n
JERUSALEM \u2014 The head of a small hard-line party on Sunday said he would try to form a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s opponents, taking a major step toward ending the 12-year rule of the Israeli leader.<\/p>\n
In a nationwide address, Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett said he had decided to join forces with the country\u2019s opposition leader, Yair Lapid.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n
The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which they are expected to each serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal. Lapid\u2019s Yesh Atid party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday.<\/p>\n
A unity government would end the cycle of deadlock that has plunged the country into four inconclusive elections over the past two years. It also would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades.<\/p>\n
In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing.<\/p>\n
He urged nationalist politicians who have joined the coalition talks not to establish what he called a \u201cleftist government.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bennett, a former Netanyahu aide turned rival, said he was taking the dramatic step to prevent yet another election. While sharing Netanyahu\u2019s nationalist ideology, Bennett said there was no feasible way for the hard-line right wing to form a governing majority in parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cA government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said everyone \u201cwill need to postpone fulfilling all their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on what\u2019s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu \u2014 who has become a polarizing figure as he stands trial on corruption charges \u2014 with each ending in deadlock.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power while he is on trial. He has used his office as a stage to rally support and lash out against police, prosecutors and the media.<\/p>\n
If his opponents fail to form a government and new elections are triggered, it would give him another chance at seeing the election of a parliament that is in favor of granting him immunity from prosecution. But if they succeed, he would find himself in the much weaker position of opposition leader and potentially find himself facing unrest in his Likud party.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu, who has accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing, planned a televised statement later Sunday.<\/p>\n
In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners.<\/p>\n
As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the country\u2019s figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu even attempted to court a small Islamist Arab party but was thwarted by a small ultranationalist party with a racist anti-Arab agenda<\/a>. Although Arabs make up some 20% of Israel\u2019s population, an Arab party has never before sat in an Israeli coalition government.<\/p>\n After Netanyahu\u2019s failure to form a government, Lapid was then given four weeks to cobble together a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task.<\/p>\n Lapid already faced a difficult challenge, given the broad range of parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc that have little in common. They include dovish left-wing parties, a pair of right-wing nationalist parties, including Bennett\u2019s Yamina, and most likely the Islamist United Arab List.<\/p>\n Lapid\u2019s task was made even more difficult after war broke out with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on May 10. His coalition talks were put on hold <\/a>during the 11 days of fighting.<\/p>\n But with Wednesday\u2019s deadline looming, negotiations have kicked into high gear. Lapid has reached coalition deals with three other parties so far. If he finalizes a deal with Bennett, the remaining partners are expected to quickly fall into place.<\/p>\n