The centrist Lapid takes on the challenge of forming a Government in Israel after the Netanyahu fiasco

Election poster with conservative Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist Yair Lapid, on March 14 in Tel Aviv.Oded Balilty / AP

Conservative Benjamin Netanyahu has seen his continuity as prime minister threatened after 12 uninterrupted years in power after failing to form a government with the forces of the right. Hours after his legal deadline expired, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday tasked centrist leader Yair Lapid, 57, with the arduous mission of setting up a government coalition in less than four weeks. Their only alternative to avoid the fifth legislative elections since 2019 - the last ones were held on March 23 - is to agree to an Executive of national unity with seven opposition parties, several of which have openly opposing programs.

"It is clear that Deputy Lapid can form a government with the confidence of the majority of the Knesset (Parliament) despite the many difficulties that lie ahead," Rivlin announced in a televised address to the nation on the afternoon of Wednesday, after having consulted with the party leaders during the day. The Israeli president specified that the centrist candidate for prime minister had the backing of 56 of the 120 seats in the Chamber.

Lapid initially has his own party, Yesh Atid, which was the second most voted in the last elections, with 17 seats.

In addition, two conservative formations split from the orbit of Netanyahu's Likud have endorsed him before the president;

as well as the Labor Party, Meretz (pacifist left) and five of the six deputies of the Joint List (Arab coalition), who together with another small Islamist force repress 21% of Israelis with Palestinian origins.

For the first time since 1992, when he contributed to the inauguration of Labor party Simon Peres, the Arab vote can be decisive in the Jewish state.

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To add an absolute majority, Lapid will also need the seven parliamentarians of the Yamina religious nationalist movement, headed by former Minister Naftali Bennett, 49 years old. This was yesterday in favor of "a broad government of national unity to avoid the fifth elections." Hebrew press analysts suggest that Lapid and Bennet will negotiate a coalition agreement in which both will rotate as prime minister mid-term.

Touched, but not sunk, Netanyahu, 71, returned the task of forming a government to the head of state shortly before midnight on Tuesday, having added only the support of 52 deputies in an alliance of his party, the Likud, with two ultra-orthodox forces and one from the extreme right.

The veteran ruler, who adds 15 years as prime minister if the 1996-1999 term of the legislature is added, will continue to hold office as long as the centrist candidate does not achieve his goal.

Netanyahu hinted on Wednesday afternoon that he will try to persuade right-wing MPs on Lapid's side to return to the conservative Knesset bloc.

"The truth is simple: that coalition (of the opposition) will become a dangerous leftist government."

Lapid jumped into politics in 2013 from the platform of his popularity as a television host.

He promoted from the Government (between 2013 and 2015) legal reforms in favor of secularism that made him the great rival of the ultra-religious.

His broad-coalition Executive offer, focused on managing the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic, has the support of 43% of citizens, according to a poll by channel 13 of Israeli television, who also reject another repetition. of the elections.

After more than two years of political blockade and four consecutive legislative elections without conclusive results, Netanyahu had opted for a new call to the polls in the fall.

But the Israeli political class and society do not seem this time willing to allow the electoral loop to last forever.

The longest-ruling prime minister in the history of Israel has tried almost everything to remain shielded from power against the corruption trial that is taking place against him in Jerusalem. But he has not managed to add the 61-seat vote in the Knesset: an inescapable condition to continue to steer Israel.