Skip to main content

Netanyahu, Lapid and Syria

The reported Israeli attack on an arms convoy in Syria plays into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hands to form a government with Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid and the ultra-Orthodox parties, writes Mazal Mualem.
Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There's a Future) party, leaves the podium after delivering a statement to the media, following his meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres (unseen) in Jerusalem January 30, 2013. Peres on Wednesday began consultations with political parties over the formation of a new coalition and appears certain to pick incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble it. Lapid's new centrist party stormed to second place in last week's election by winning 19 seats. REUTER
Read in 

The attack in Syria that, according to foreign sources, was carried out by Israel in the middle of last week [Jan. 29], is expected to fill an important role in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Sisyphean efforts to establish as broad a coalition as possible, including Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, the ultra-Orthodox and — if possible — Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett, too.

In fact, anyone who kept track of the prime minister’s announcements last week, even before the assault in Syria, can easily identify the connection Netanyahu makes between Assad’s loss of control in Syria and a possible solution to his own personal political headache.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.