Netanyahu's Political Revival?... Palestinian Clashes Threaten Anti-Netanyahu Coalition Talks Crisis

Yamina Party Suddenly Withdraws from Negotiations... "Cannot Join with Arab Parties"
Anti-Netanyahu Faction Falls Short of Majority for Coalition... Possible Re-election if Deadline Missed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the conflict between Israel and Palestine intensifies, the Jewish nationalist opposition party participating in the anti-Netanyahu coalition negotiations in Israel announced its withdrawal from the talks. Amid ongoing coalition government formation negotiations centered on the opposition parties, the possibility of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political comeback has increased.

On the 13th (local time), Naftali Bennett, leader of the Jewish nationalist opposition party Yamina, stated that he would withdraw from the coalition formation negotiations. Bennett explained that the reason for withdrawing from the talks was that, amid the armed conflict with the Islamic state of Palestine, he could not form a coalition government together with the Islamic minority parties participating in the negotiations.

Bennett further announced his intention to proceed with government formation negotiations with Netanyahu's Likud party.

With Yamina's departure, the anti-Netanyahu coalition negotiations led by Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, faced the risk of collapse. Although about three weeks remain for negotiations, it has become impossible to secure the support of the majority of 61 members of the Knesset needed to form a coalition without Yamina's help.

Earlier, immediately after the outbreak of armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, the United Arab List (UAL), an Arab party participating in the negotiations, temporarily suspended talks, causing a crisis for Lapid's coalition negotiations.

Even if Bennett participates in the government formation led by Netanyahu, Netanyahu is expected to gather only 59 members, falling short of a majority.

Ultimately, the possibility of the coalition formation negotiations collapsing has increased. If Lapid's coalition talks exceed the deadline, President Reuven Rivlin may transfer the mandate to form a government to another figure or order a new election. If a new election is held, Israel is expected to have conducted five elections in the past two and a half years.

Lapid stated that he would devote all efforts to forming a coalition within the remaining time. He emphasized, "I will seek every possible means to form an (anti-Netanyahu) government."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.