Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on Monday dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent call for a broad national unity government, accusing him of political maneuvering and attempting to take votes from the opposition bloc ahead of the upcoming elections.
Lapid made the remarks at a faction press conference in the Knesset for the Together Party, of which he is a member, led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett.
Netanyahu stated during a Saturday press conference that he intends to establish a “broad national government” and called for unity.
Lapid accused Netanyahu’s call for such a government as part of the premier’s efforts to establish “satellite parties that will attempt to take votes from our bloc.”
Lapid was referring to the reports of a potential alliance with Blue and White party leader MK Benny Gantz and Reservist Party leader Yoaz Hendel, neither of whom has ruled out sitting in a government with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu calls for unity after 'advancing divisive legislation'
In response to the possibility of a broad national government, Lapid cited the contentious legislation the coalition has fast-tracked in recent weeks.
“They are advancing the Basic Law: Torah Study - or, by its real name, the Basic Law for Financing Draft Evasion.”
“They are establishing a political commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attacks,” he added.
Lapid criticized Netanyahu for calling for unity after advancing divisive legislation.
He then vowed that Netanyahu would lose the elections, which are set to take place no later than October 27.
“You will never form another government in Israel. There will be elections, and you will lose,” Lapid said, addressing Netanyahu.
“He will lose, and the State of Israel will be saved. We will establish a good, professional, decent government.”
Lapid also pledged not to sit in a government with Netanyahu after the elections.
“We will gladly form a unity government - with [Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, with [Yisrael Beytenu leader Avidgor] Liberman, with [the Democrats leader Yair] Golan, and hopefully, even with Likud, after Netanyahu loses and they send him into retirement.”
PM on October 7, legitimized Kahanism, normalized corruption, career of hatred
“A man who was prime minister on October 7 and did not take responsibility, who legitimized Kahanism, normalized corruption, sanctified draft evasion, and above all, built his entire political career on hatred and incitement - we will not sit with him.”
Other opposition party leaders in the bloc seeking to oust the prime minister in the upcoming elections also sharply criticized Netanyahu’s proposal for a broad national government.
Eisenkot, a leading rival candidate in the opposition bloc, stated that Netanyahu calling for unity was “a great paradox.”
“He is working against universal service and is trying to pass a draft-evasion law,” he said. “He is trying to establish a political commission of inquiry when nearly 70% of Israeli citizens want a genuine state commission of inquiry.”
“The real test is not slogans or public relations - it is actions. And, when I look at what is happening this week, I see a series of measures that divide Israeli society,” Eisenkot added.
Golan said in the faction press conference that the unity government was “Netanyahu’s new spin.”
“I want to address my colleagues who might be confused: forming a government with Netanyahu is like going on a date with a Tinder scammer; you simply don’t do it,” he added.