Israeli opposition leader says time has come to replace Netanyahu

JERUSALEM – Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Nov 16 it was time to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that there would be broad support to form a unity government led by Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.

Mr Lapid, a centrist who served briefly as prime minister in 2022, said he believed a large majority of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset, or Parliament, would sign on to such a coalition.

He made his comments as Israel pressed on with its military offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ deadly Oct 7 rampage in southern Israel.

“The time has come – we need to establish a national reconstruction government. Likud will lead it, Netanyahu and the extremists will be replaced, over 90 members of the Knesset will be partners in the coalition for healing and reconnection,” Mr Lapid wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mr Netanyahu’s Likud is the largest party in Israel’s ruling coalition, which includes ultra-nationalist and religious parties. Together, they control 64 seats in Parliament.

Mr Lapid refused to join Mr Netanyahu’s war Cabinet at the start of the conflict, although other centrist lawmakers agreed to do so and help manage the war.

“I hear those saying this is not the time. We waited 40 days; there is no more time. What we need now is a government that will deal with nothing other than security and the economy,” Mr Lapid wrote on X.

“We can’t afford another election cycle in the coming year in which we continue to fight and explain why the other side is a disaster.” REUTERS