Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's deadline to form a new government ended at midnight Tuesday, as the longest-serving leader of Israel failed to break a political deadlock that has persisted for more than two years. There is also no guarantee that parties outside his caretaker government can resolve their differences to oust him, following his failure to establish a new coalition. Netanyahu, 71, has been in power since 2009, having also served for three years in the 1990s. He has struggled to remain in the political arena through four inconclusive elections since 2019 and is currently on trial for corruption charges, which he denies.
With the midnight deadline passed, President Reuven Rivlin can now task another parliament member with the mission of forming a coalition. Yair Lapid, 57, whose centrist party (Yesh Atid) came in second after Netanyahu’s Likud Party in the March 23 elections, is widely expected to be the choice. Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing and religious parties has been unable to achieve a majority, nor has another bloc seeking to replace him, which would need to include rivals from the right as well as traditional opponents from the left and center to secure a parliamentary majority.
Both sides sought to win over parties representing the Arab minority, comprising about 20% of Israel's population, which could potentially grant them a voice in government formation for the first time in decades. Naftali Bennett, leader of the far-right Yamina party, emerged as a pivotal factor in the selection of the new leader. Bennett, 49, expressed a preference for joining Netanyahu but stated he would seek a partnership with the Prime Minister's opponents to avoid a fifth election as Israel resumes its full economic activities following a rapid COVID-19 vaccination campaign, while facing challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program.
A proposal was also raised for an agreement in which Bennett and Lapid would alternate the premiership. The political crisis in Israel is primarily rooted in the legal issues facing Netanyahu, as some potential allies have indicated they will not work under a Prime Minister who is on trial. Should a new candidate chosen by the president fail to form a coalition within 28 days, the president may ask the parliament to select a candidate within three weeks. If parliament cannot do so, new elections will be held. Political reporter Yoav Karkowsky of Kan Public Radio stated, "We are looking at a 60% chance of new elections and a 40% chance of forming a new government."
