From hope to despair: Israelis react to new anti-Netanyahu coalition

Ya'alon says gov't will get country back on track; Ben-Gvir warns of blood on new members' hands.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Presumptive Incoming Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid are photographed together in the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel in Ramat Gan after announcing the formation of a new coalition, on June 3, 2021. (photo credit: COURTESY YESH ATID)
Presumptive Incoming Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid are photographed together in the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel in Ramat Gan after announcing the formation of a new coalition, on June 3, 2021.
(photo credit: COURTESY YESH ATID)
Anti-Netanyahu protesters who were gathered outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem celebrated the announcement of the new change bloc coalition late Wednesday night by waving flags and singing, as seen in activist Or-ly Barlev's birthday party celebration.
"When the personal meets the national. I could not have wished for a bigger birthday present," Barlev tweeted. 

She captured the celebration on a live Facebook feed in what the long-time Netanyahu critic and activist-journalist described as a "personal moment, which became national," when a few friends came to celebrate her birthday and the new coalition was announced. 

 
"What a jump we made tonight. Wow," she wrote.
Israel's former defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon, reactedt in a tweet late Wednesday night, congratulating party members for signing up to the coalition.
"Congratulations to [Yair] Lapid, [Naftali] Bennett, and [Gideon] Sa'ar, the leaders of the change coalition, for the completion of this important stage on the way to putting the country back on track," he tweeted. 
 

Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz also congratulated the party leaders, tweeting: "Congratulations to all our partners in the new coalition. Cheers to the government in waiting!"

Defense Minister Benny Gantz tweeted from the plane on his way to the United States that Wednesday night was a "night of great hope." He congratulated the change bloc and wished Israel good luck with its new government.

"I am going now to the US for a very short and very important meeting. I am convinced that I will be able to address Israel's security needs there, and that we will be able to finally form a change government that will work for the unity and healing of Israeli society," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to respond to the news.
However, right-wing Oztma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir and Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich criticized the formation of the new coalition, which could oust long-time premier Netanyahu.
"So the Arabs of Israel collaborated with Hamas, revolted and carried out programs against Jews backed by their political leadership, and they will now receive reinforcement and an irresponsible chain of rewards that will encourage them to continue in the same mode," Smotrich tweeted on Wednesday night, referring to the support given to the new coalition with Ra'am Party leader Mansour Abbas. 
"The blood of Jews that will, God forbid, be shed as a result, will be on the hands of whoever will vote for this government," he added. 
 

 "I managed to form a government with supporters of terrorism. Yours, Naftali Bennett," Ben-Gvir sarcastically tweeted of Bennett's decision to join the change coalition. 

Coalition Chairman Miki Zohar (Likud) also expressed his disappointment, in his tweet, "The Left celebrates, but this is a very sad day for the State of Israel."

He called out Yamina head Bennett, New Hope leader Sa'ar and Yamina No. 2 Ayelet Shaked, saying they should be ashamed for agreeing to join the change bloc. 



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