Israeli prime inister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday sought to try to dissuade opponents from forming a “government of change” as media reports say a deal to unseat Israel’s longest-serving leader could be imminent. Israeli media said Mr Lapid was closing in on an alliance of right-wing, centrist and leftist parties. Mr Bennett (49) was widely expected to announce whether he would team up with Mr Lapid, who heads the centrist Yesh Atid party. Israeli media reports largely predicted Mr Bennett would agree to the partnership. Faced with a possible deal, Mr Netanyahu made a sudden counter-offer on Sunday that would entail a break in the prime minister’s 12 consecutive years in office.

Source: The Irish Times May 30, 2021 10:41 UTC