Leaders of parties in Bennett-Lapid coalition meet for first time

By Raoul Wootliff 6 June 2021, 6:17 pm

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Raoul Wootliff is a former Times of Israel political correspondent and Daily Briefing podcast producer.

(L-R) Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Yamina chair Naftali Bennett, New Hope chair Gideon Sa'ar, Blue and White head Benny Gantz, Ra’am chair Mansour Abbas, Labor head Merav Michaeli and Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz at a meeting of the heads of the would-be-coalition in Tel Aviv, June 6, 2021. (Ra'anan Cohen)

The leaders of the eight parties that make up the new government hoping to be sworn in next week, are currently meeting in Tel Aviv for the first time since last week’s announcement that Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid, has succeeded in forming a coalition.

Lapid, Yamina chair Naftali Bennett, who is set to be prime minister first in a rotation agreement with the Yesh Atid leader, New Hope chair Gideon Sa’ar, Yisrael Beytenu’s Avigdor Liberman, Blue and White’s Benny Gantz, Labor’s Merav Michaeli and Meretz’s Nitzan Horowitz, and the conservative Islamic party Ra’am’s leader, Mansour Abbas are all taking part in the meeting.

The emerging government hopes to be sworn in as soon as possible but will likely have to wait until next Monday. In the meantime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet given up on the hope of persuading some members of the would-be coalition to defect and vote against the government.