Yesh Atid on Thursday presented the Knesset Secretariat with the signatures of 61 lawmakers, seeking to cement the change of government in Israel.
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The so-called "pro-change" bloc seeks to have the new government sworn in by next Wednesday. According to Channel 12 News, Yesh Atid has also presented a motion to immediately replace Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin (Likud) with MK Mickey Levy, as it is believed Levin will use his power to delay the vote in an effort to delay the unseating of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid informed President Reuven Rivlin that has was able to form a government late on Wednesday night – in fact, just 30 minutes before the midnight deadline of his mandate was to elapse.
Given the drama surrounding the coalition talks, most Israeli politicians were conspicuously silent following Lapid's announcement, most notably Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, who is slated to become prime minister.
Rivlin congratulated Lapid, saying he hopes "the Knesset convenes as soon as possible to approve the government, as required."
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said, "This is a night of great hope. I congratulate my partners in the pro-change bloc and I'm convinced that we can finally form a government that would pursue uniting and healing Israeli society."
Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz also tweeted his congratulations to the new coalition's partners.
The makeup of the emerging Center-Left government will see Bennett serve as prime minister first, with Lapid serving as PM-designate and foreign minister.
Gantz will remain defense minister; Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked will be named interior minister, Labor leader Merav Michaeli will serve as transportation minister, New Hope leader Gideon Sa'ar will be the justice minister, and Yisrael Beytenu's Avigdor Lieberman will serve as finance minister.
Horowitz will be named health minister, Labor MK Omer Bar-Lev will be the public security minister, New Hope MK Yoaz Hendel was named communication minister, New Hope MK Yifat Shasha-Biton will serve as education minister, Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg will serve as environmental protection minister, and fellow party MK Esawi Frej will serve as regional cooperation minister.
Yamina's Matan Kahana will serve as religious affairs minister, Blue and White MKs Pnina Tamano-Shata and Alon Schuster will continue in their respective roles of aliyah and integration minister and agriculture minister, respectively. Party member Hili Tropper will serve as culture and sports minister.
New Hope MK will serve as housing minister, Yesh Atid's Orna Barbivay will be the economy minister, Labor MK Nachman Shai will head the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, Blue and White's Orit Farkash-Hacohen will serve as science minister, Yesh Atid's Meir Cohen will retain his position and welfare and social services minister, fellow party member Meirav Cohen will be social equality minister, and another Yesh Atid lawmaker, which has yet to be named, will head the Energy Ministry.
It's not over till it's over?
The Likud issued no statement following Lapid's announcement, with party insiders saying that "not all is lost" and pledging to continue efforts to counter the plan to remove Netanyahu – Israel's longest-serving prime minister – from power.
Kahana said Thursday that Yamina lawmakers are "under tremendous pressure" to back out of the new coalition: "It's everywhere. Social media, phone calls, protests outside homes – to the point of crossing some red lines. Some MKs feel their children are being threatened. The prime minister is definitely stirring the pot but not just him. They [political rivals] are spearing no effort to undermine us."
Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich lambasted the new coalition, saying Bennett, specifically, "Lied to voters throughout his entire [election] campaign. Now he has realized his scheme to join Lapid, unseat Netanyahu and become prime minister at all cost."
Religious Zionist Party MK Orit Strock called Bennett's decision to partner with Lapid, "sad, shameful and horrifying."
Likud MK Keren Barak said, "Yesterday [Wednesday] we said that it's not over till it's over. Everyone can see that these seven parties [making up the coalition] have nothing in common. We plan to explain that to the public in the coming days."
Right-wing activists are also reportedly planning to step up protests outside Shaked's home, as she is seen as the "best bet" with respect to a Yamina lawmaker who can opposed the new government at the last minute, thus preventing its formation.
"The national camp is waking up and returning to the streets," one activist told Israel Hayom.
"We urge Shaked – do not disengage from the Right. Do not detach yourself from Jewish identity. Do not sell the Negev to supporters of terrorism. It is not too late for you to come to your senses and vote against the formation of a government with extreme-Left [factions] and pro-terrorism Arabs."
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