Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett traded barbs on Sunday ahead of what could be a momentous week in Israeli politics.
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Hours after Netanyahu called a new coalition to unseat him – comprising left- and right-wing parties – "the greatest election fraud" in the history of the nation, Bennett hit back, accusing him of refusing to face the reality of the democratic process.
Bennett called on the prime minister not to leave destruction in his path and accept that "people are allowed to establish a government – even if you don't head it".
In his televised speech, Bennett called on Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin not to try to buy time to encourage members of the new coalition to defect, and said he should hold the vote on Wednesday.
"Let go. Let the country move forward," Bennett said, addressing his remarks to Netanyahu, who has been in office since 2009 and also between 1996-1999. "Netanyahu, don't leave scorched earth behind you. All of us, the entire nation, want to remember the good you did during your service."
Netanyahu has claimed that Bennett and other right-wing leaders have reneged on their promises to voters to pursue a right-wing agenda by partnering with the Left just in order to topple him.
"We are witnessing the greatest election fraud in the history of the country, in my opinion in the history of any democracy," Netanyahu said in comments to legislators from his right-wing Likud party.
Bennett announced with Opposition leader Yair Lapid that they had formed a governing coalition with factions from across the political spectrum following an inconclusive March 23 election, Israel's fourth in two years.
Under a rotation deal, Bennett will serve first as prime minister, followed by Lapid. No date has been set for a vote in parliament to approve the new government.
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