Israel’s opposition party pledges support for Netanyahu

Several right-wing nationalist leaders in Netanyahu’s coalition government have threatened to break out if an agreement is reached on a cease-fire in Gaza.

A ceasefire agreement would be “a defeat and a betrayal”, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday.

– We will not be part of an agreement that involves surrendering to Hamas, he said.

Promise from Lapid

If a ceasefire agreement is concluded and the government collapses, however, the largest opposition party Yesh Atid will come to Netanyahu’s aid, promises party leader Yair Lapid.

– There is now an agreement on the hostages on the table. It is not true that Netanyahu has to choose between such a hostage deal and remaining as prime minister, Lapid said on Monday.

– Let him make a deal. I promise him a safety net and I will keep that promise, he said in a party meeting.

Difficult decision

Lapid admitted that it will be a difficult decision to let Netanyahu continue to rule, but stressed that the most important thing is to secure the release of the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

The two far-right parties in Netanyahu’s government coalition have a total of 13 representatives in the National Assembly, while Yesh Atid has 24.