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The leader of a far-right Israeli party has thrown his support behind plans for a “government of change” to unseat the country’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a move that could signal the end of a political era.
Naftali Bennett’s decision, which was announced in a televised address, could allow opposition chief Yair Lapid the opportunity to put together a coalition of right-wing, centrist and leftist parties to defeat Mr Netanyahu for the first time since 1999.
Mr Lapid, who leads the centrist party Yesh Atid, faces a Wednesday deadline from Israel’s president to announce a new government.
His party finished second to Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud in an inconclusive national ballot in March.
The chances of a unity government succeeding have largely rested with Mr Bennett, a former defence chief whose Yamina party holds six seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament.
Under the prospective power-sharing deal, Mr Bennett would replace Mr Netanyahu as prime minister and later give way to Mr Lapid in a rotation agreement.
“I am announcing today that I intend to work with all my might towards establishing a unity government with Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid,” he said in his speech on Sunday.
“It’s either a fifth election, or a unity government.”
In response, Mr Netanyahu accused Mr Bennett of perpetrating “the fraud of the century”, citing past public promises against joining up with Mr Lapid.
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