Formation of a New Coalition Government in Israel on June 7, 2021

On June 7, 2021, Israeli opposition parties officially informed President Reuven Rivlin that they had successfully reached an agreement to form a new coalition government. This development marked a significant political shift in Israel, as it aimed to unseat the long-standing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Context

The formation of this coalition followed inconclusive elections held in Israel on March 23, 2021, which were the fourth in two years. These elections resulted in political stalemates, with neither Netanyahu nor his political rival, Yair Lapid, managing to secure a parliamentary majority on their own.

Composition of the Coalition

This coalition was notably diverse, including parties across the political spectrum, unified mainly by their common objective to end Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure. The coalition included:

• Yesh Atid: Led by Yair Lapid, a center-left party that played a pivotal role in negotiating the coalition.
• Yamina: Naftali Bennett’s right-wing party, whose support was crucial given its ability to sway the ideological balance of the government.
• New Hope: A breakaway right-wing faction founded by former Netanyahu ally Gideon Sa’ar.
• Blue and White: Led by Benny Gantz, a key centrist figure in the coalition.
• Labor Party: Representing the traditional left of Israeli politics.
• Meretz: A left-wing, social-democratic party.
• United Arab List (Ra’am): An Arab party, marking the first time an independent Arab faction joined an Israeli coalition government.

Key Agreements

The coalition agreement called for a rotation of the Prime Minister’s office between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Bennett was to serve as Prime Minister initially, with Lapid taking over at a later date, after Bennett’s term.

Significance and Aftermath

The coalition was not only significant for ending Netanyahu’s prolonged leadership but also for its unprecedented composition, reflecting a broad spectrum of Israeli society. This diverse grouping illustrated a temporary bridging of ideological and political divides to focus on shared interests over Netanyahu’s leadership.

This coalition’s formation was anticipated to introduce new political dynamics within Israel, impacting both domestic policies and international relations. However, the stability of such a broad coalition was expected to be tested by its varied constituent interests.