JERUSALEM: Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Thursday it was time to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netan­yahu, and that there would be broad support to form a unity government led by Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.

Centrist Lapid, who served briefly as prime minister last year, said he believed a large majority of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset, or parliament, would sign on to such a coalition.

He made his comments as Israel pressed on with its military offensive in Gaza since Oct 7.

“The time has come — we need to establish a national reconstruction gov­ernment. Likud will lead it, Netanyahu and the extremists will be replac­ed, over 90 members of the Knesset will be partners in the coalition for healing and reconnection,” Lapid wrote on X.

Netanyahu’s Likud is the largest party in Israel’s ruling coalition. Together they control 64 seats in parliament.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2023