Israeli opposition leader backs Netanyahu government to secure hostage deal

First on Fox: Two years since the terrible events of October 7, 2023, when the terrorists of Hamas attacked Israel and 1,200 men, women and children killed before taking 251 others in the Gaza Strip Benjamin Netanyahu The government faces a possible collapse.

Netanyahu has found an unlikely ally in the former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who extended a “security network” for the conservative guide this week to secure the government Negotiations with Hamas Stay further.

“Nothing is more important than making this deal and bringing our hostages home,” said Lapid in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Trump’s peace agreement could end the war in Gaza or Netanyahus career

The need for Lapid’s political support comes as a right leader in the coalition of Netanyahu, the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahus has repeatedly criticized the president’s acceptance Donald Trumps Peace plan with Hamas and threatened to leave the coalition in numerous places last year.

The Netanyahu coalition lost its majority in the Israeli parliament in July Two ultra -orthodox parties left Your ministerial posts after a liberation that granted religious students a passport for military conscription.

The move left the Netanyahu coalition only 50 of the 120 seats in the Knesset.

“Now he is completely dependent on the extreme old law in his government, which says no to a business [with Hamas]”Lapid explained.

When asked how likely it was that it would be triggered for special elections as soon as the parliament returns from his autumn break on October 19, Lapid said: “Very likely”.

It is unlikely that a special election will take place earlier than in February or March 2026, Lapid explained to a certain time frame that enables campaigns in Israel in Israel if the Knesset was to trigger an early election cycle until November – just seven months earlier than the previously planned elections in October 2026.

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Lapid believes that the Israeli public will prefer a more central government that would include both rights and links, a step that would still prioritize Israeli security, but also ensures international reputation.

“If there is one thing I’m sorry [it] Is the fact that nobody in the government has the political courage to get up and say … This is a just war. We do what needs to be done to protect ourselves, but we are sorry for every child who loses his life, “said Lapid.

“As a Jew, as people, as people who believe in Jewish-Christian traditions and morality, it is heartbreaking,” he added.

Lapid said International supportEven under “groups that traditionally support Israel”.

The opposition leader described a meeting that he had with Netanyahu October 7, 2023In which he said that the prime minister suddenly appeared “gray and tired and old”.

Israel, Hamas meet in Egypt to revive the Trump’s peace plan on October 7th

“I said something at this meeting that later became a cliché – I said:” Prime Minister, this is the worst day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“What we have to do is to form a unit government,” he said. “You have to get rid of the extremists in your government, and we can create a government unit because we have opposed, a challenge that is unprecedented for everything you or I have ever seen.”

Lapid said Netanyahu was “reluctant” to pursue this route.

“I’m sorry to this day. I thought it was the right thing, and I still think it was the right thing,” he added.

Netanyahu spent 15 years as Israel’s prime minister, who was served for the first time from March 2009 to June 2021 before repeating the top job in the top jobs December 2022.

Lapid described his lengthy term as “admirable” and emblematic for his “resilience”.

“But now I can see in another way to politely say the advantages of the two -term limits in the United States,” he added.

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The opposition leader said he thinks that Israelis were ready for a “unity government” in response to Netanyahus, the right-wing extremist coalition, and found that he believes that the upcoming elections will be “interesting”.

“There will be political boundaries and hope will be based,” he added in relation to the block that he builds. “I know it sounds like big words, but I tell you it is what we need right now.

“It was the most difficult two years of all lifespan. And for the first time in a long time in a long time, the fragility of Israeli society was tangible for us. And we have to rebuild again,” added Lapid.

The Netanyahu office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions when this report was published.