Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz poised to form unity government
The coalition would almost certainly spell an end to the premier’s controversial judicial reform plans
October 7, 2023 19:35
The coalition would almost certainly spell an end to the premier’s controversial judicial reform plans
October 7, 2023 19:35Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a unity government after declaring a state of war amid a massive offensive on the country and its citizens by Hamas terrorists, it is understood.
The move, which would bring Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid together during the national emergency, would almost certainly spell an end to the premier’s controversial judicial reform plans, which have divided the country in recent months.
Netanyahu made the offer during a meeting with Yesh Atid leader Lapid and National Unity party leader Benny Gantz today, according to The Times of Israel.
Such a government would follow the template set in 1967 when, on the eve of the Six Day War, then-prime minister Levi Eshkol formed a national unity government, bringing in opposition parties to deal with the threat the country was facing.
Lapid called for the formation of a national unity government earlier today to “conduct the difficult, complex and protracted campaign before us.”
The Yesh Atid leader – who has been a harsh critic of Netanyahu and his hard-right government – said: “The State of Israel is at war. It will not be an easy war and it will not be a short war.”
He continued “It has strategic consequences the likes of which we have not seen for many, many years. There is a great risk that it will turn into a multi-front war.”
Establishing an emergency unity government will send a message to Israel’s enemies and the world that Israel stands united behind the IDF and the security establishment, he added.
Lapid warned that it would be “impossible” to wage a war as things stand given “the extreme and dysfunctional composition of the current cabinet”, in remarks widely understood to be a demand for Netanyahu to remove the far-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties from government ahead of any unity partnership.
National Unity party leader Benny Gantz has said he is considering entering a unity government with Netanyahu and Lapid for the duration of the war, to “deal with security challenges alone”, The Times of Israel reported.