Netanyahu's "Election Fraud" Offensive... Bennett Retorts, "Israel Is Not a Kingdom"

Right-Wing Offensive, Terror Threats Shake Coalition
Yamina Party Supports Coalition with 6 of 7 Seats... Only 1 Seat Left for Majority

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Israel's 'Rainbow Coalition,' formed to prevent the re-election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing a crisis of collapse even before its official launch amid fierce attacks from Netanyahu and right-wing forces. Amid various terror threats and protests from right-wing supporters, the coalition is reportedly in a situation where losing just one more member would result in losing the majority of seats, making it impossible to launch.

On the 6th (local time), Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yamina Party and a candidate for Israel's next prime minister, stated in a press release, "Israel is not a monarchy. Netanyahu must relinquish power for the country to move forward," adding, "Even without Netanyahu leading, Israel can tilt 10 degrees more to the right than it currently is." This was a direct criticism of the continuous offensives by Netanyahu and right-wing forces.

According to local media such as The Times of Israel, Netanyahu held a faction meeting of the right-wing Likud Party he leads and said, "If a new government is formed, it is a fraud against the will of the people. The greatest election fraud in history," urging right-wing supporters to oppose the coalition's launch by stating, "A dangerous left-wing government cannot resist the return to the Iran nuclear deal, which has emerged as our greatest threat."

Amid the fierce attacks from Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and right-wing forces, the Rainbow Coalition is even facing the possibility of losing its majority seats. So far, the coalition opposing Netanyahu includes a total of 62 seats, with Yesh Atid (17 seats) at the center, along with Blue and White (8 seats), Yisrael Beiteinu (7 seats), Labor Party (7 seats), New Hope (6 seats), Meretz (6 seats), Yamina (7 seats), and Ra'am (4 seats). The Joint List (6 seats), which was expected to participate in the coalition, has agreed not to join but to continue the anti-Netanyahu alliance.

However, on this day, only six members of the Yamina Party expressed support for the coalition, reducing the number of seats to 61. Concerns have been raised that if even one more member defects, the coalition will lose the majority of 61 seats and will not be able to form a government.