Israeli opposition unites to oust Netanyahu, split on Arab party alliance

Israeli opposition leaders led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot met for the first time since the election to discuss forming a coalition government aimed at removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting took place Tuesday in Herzliya. Party heads including Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan voiced full support for Eisenkot's coalition efforts. No faction secured a majority in the election, with the opposition alliance holding 48 seats and Netanyahu's camp 53 in the 120-seat Knesset. Arab parties won 19 seats, emerging as potential kingmakers, but opposition members are divided on cooperating with them. Lieberman suggested excluding Arab parties, while Golan met with Joint List leaders to discuss forming a "government of change."