Israeli "Change Bloc" Leaders Meet to Coordinate Government Formation

By ישראל זאב לוונטהל לוונטהל

Translated & summarized from JDN by baba

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Hebrew · 7 newsrooms covering

Leaders of five Israeli "change bloc" parties met in Herzliya to coordinate efforts for forming a government ahead of presidential consultations. Key issues include potential cooperation with Arab parties, with differing views from Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman. The meeting aimed to bridge gaps on coalition partners and the formation strategy, with Yair Lapid emphasizing the need to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from power.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Five Israeli "change bloc" party leaders met in Herzliya to coordinate government formation efforts.
The meeting preceded presidential consultations on who will be tasked with forming the next government.
Yair Lapid stressed the need to establish a government and remove Benjamin Netanyahu from office.
Disagreements exist within the bloc regarding cooperation with Arab parties like the Joint List and Ra'am.
Yair Golan met with Joint List leaders to discuss parliamentary majority and replacing the current government.
Elisaf Peretz called for a "Zionist government" prioritizing soldiers' needs.

Leaders of five parties comprising the "change bloc" convened in Herzliya on Tuesday for their first meeting since the elections, aiming to coordinate efforts to form a new government. The gathering occurred one day before consultations at the presidential residence, where the president will decide whom to task with forming the government. The meeting also comes amid reported disagreements and lack of coordination among the bloc's leaders in recent days.

Yair Lapid, entering the meeting, stated, "We are facing a serious and dangerous attempt to harm the election results. We must establish a government." He added that recent conduct serves as a reminder that "we need to remove Netanyahu from the Prime Minister's office."

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, posted a picture of himself looking out at sailboats, writing, "In minutes we will begin the meeting of the leaders of the change and reform parties. There is still a white sail on the horizon. We will do and succeed!"

A key issue for the bloc is cooperation with Arab parties. Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, is promoting coordination with the Joint List, while Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, reiterated his call for a government without the Joint List or Ra'am. Lieberman suggested that the current political situation allows for maneuvering to form a stable government quickly without these parties, though he did not elaborate.

Earlier, Golan met with Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Joint List, and Ahmed Tibi, faction leader. This was their first official meeting since the elections, focusing on inter-faction coordination and steps to achieve a parliamentary majority to replace the current government, described as "Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and Smotrich's government." The parties also discussed issues concerning the Arab public and practical solutions for their advancement.

Elisaf Peretz, a designated Knesset member for Yisrael Beiteinu, joined the discussion, advocating for a "Zionist government" that prioritizes the needs of soldiers. He emphasized that soldiers who repeatedly leave their homes and families should be at the forefront of every decision and government action, as they are the reason for establishing such a government.

The Herzliya meeting aimed to coordinate recommendations for the president, but significant gaps remain among the bloc's leaders regarding coalition partners and the path to government formation.