Israeli opposition scrambles to oust Netanyahu after crucial meeting

Israeli opposition parties convened a crucial meeting on Tuesday to discuss dismantling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Former army general Gadi Eisenkot and other leaders of the "change bloc" held discussions, aiming to unite their disparate parties. They released a joint statement declaring their unity and intent to swiftly replace Netanyahu's administration with a "national emergency government."

This move comes a day before President Isaac Herzog convenes faction meetings in the Knesset to determine who should be granted the first opportunity to form a government. The chosen candidate then has 28 days to try, with an optional 14-day extension. Neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor Eisenkot's camp possesses a majority, making a coalition with Israel's Arab-majority parties a potential game-changer, as they won 19 seats in the recent election.

However, many politicians in Israel's increasingly right-wing environment are hesitant to collaborate with the Arab parties. The opposition parties claimed Eisenkot should receive the first opportunity to form a government, emphasizing the need for a rapid transition to avoid another election. If coalition talks fail, Israel would have to hold an early second election, an option neither President Herzog nor many politicians desire.

Opposition leaders also addressed Netanyahu's claims of election fraud and efforts to discredit the results. Despite these challenges, opposition leaders like Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan urged for urgent action to seize Knesset leadership and establish a "Zionist correction government" focused on restoring security and prosperity for all citizens.

However, the far-right leader Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party remains skeptical, arguing that a stable government could be formed without Arab parties.