Lapid accuses Netanyahu of undermining Israel's election results as opposition unites

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday of attempting to undermine last week's election results, as opposition parties coordinated efforts to form an alternative government under former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Lapid said in a post on X that the opposition faces a "serious and dangerous attempt to undermine the election results" and must form a government, adding that recent conduct shows "we need to remove Netanyahu from the Prime Minister's Office." Opposition leaders, including Eisenkot, Bennett, Liberman, and Golan, met in Herzliya to discuss next steps ahead of consultations with President Isaac Herzog on forming a government. The opposition bloc secured 67 seats in the 120-member Knesset versus 53 for Netanyahu's coalition, but disagreements over cooperation with Arab-led parties complicate government formation. Bennett backed Eisenkot's bid, while Golan met Joint List leaders, though Liberman and Netanyahu ruled out relying on Arab-led parties. Herzog will receive official results on November 4, with the new Knesset sworn in on November 10.