Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political opposition individuals have sent hate to him for years and pledged to never collaborate with his ruling coalition. But two such enemies – Mr Yair Lapid, the parliamentary opposition governers and Mr Benny Gantz, the governer of the National Unity party – said they would be thinking of being a part of an emergency government led by the Premier after the deadly attack on Saturday by Palestinian militants. Both opposition governers have several times called for the end of Mr Netanyahu’s rule.
But the national destruction prompted by the assault – and the anticipation of a protracted, bloody campaign – may have transformed their calculus. On Saturday evening, Mr Netanyahu said he talked about launching an emergency government during meetings with Mr Lapid and Mr Gantz. Mr Netanyahu’s 64-seat coalition in Israel’s 120-member Parliament, is governed by his right-wing Likud party but also has powerful nationalist and ultra-Orthodox wings.
Political analysts have wished it the most conservative government in Israeli history, and it has governed an extremely controversial overhaul of Israel’s judiciary that led to months of protests. Mr Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party commands 24 seats, has said he has a wish to collaborate with a government and be a part of it which is governed by Mr Netanyahu if he could not keep with his promises with hardline partners like ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“I’m wishing to put aside our arguments and create an emergency, narrow, professional government with him to handle with the tough, complicated and extended battle ahead of us,” Mr Lapid said he told Mr Netanyahu. “Prime Minister Netanyahu knows that with the current intense and dysfunctional security Cabinet, he doesn’t have the potential to deal with a war,” he said worriedly.