Israel forms new government as Netanyahu fights to stay in power - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Less than an hour before a midnight deadline to form a new government, Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party were able to form a majority coalition. If the coalition is approved, it will effectively end the 12-consecutive year era of Netanyahu, who was the longest serving PM in Israel’s history.

Here are three stories for a deeper dive:

- Knesset speaker refuses to set inauguration date

- Mixed views among Israeli-Arabs over Ra'am party joining coalition

- Expect dirty tricks in Netanyahu's last battle for survival

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid and his wife Lihi Lapid cast their vote as Israelis head to the poll, Tel Aviv, Israel, March 23, 2021.

Israel's Yesh Atid party opens branches in Arab towns

Afif Abu Much

Afif Abu Much

In Baqa al-Gharbiyye, reporting on business and tech

This combination of pictures shows (L to R) Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party speaking during an interview in Jerusalem on March 7, 2021; Naftali Bennett of the Yamina party speaking to reporters at a conference in Jerusalem on March 15, 2021; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party speaking during a ceremony marking Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, in Jerusalem on April 13, 2021.

Israel’s new government explained

Rina Bassist

Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid, not Bennett, to be strongman of Israel’s next government

Mazal Mualem

Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a special session of the Knesset, in which Knesset members elected Isaac Herzog as the new president, Jerusalem, June 2, 2021.

Expect dirty tricks in Netanyahu's last battle for survival

Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense