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Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday of attempting a coup to remain in power after losing last week’s parliamentary elections, according to Anadolu Agency.
Golan, head of the Democrats party, said developments over the previous 24 hours were a serious warning sign for Israeli democracy. “Netanyahu lost. He refuses to recognize the results, and he is trying to carry out a coup and seize power by force,” he wrote on the social media platform “X”.
He alleged that police had arrested political activists without warrants and that the Shin Bet domestic security agency had tried to question senior elected officials without presenting evidence.
Golan also accused the outgoing government of refusing to recognize the election results, saying the developments were interconnected. “Every additional minute that the outgoing government holds the centers of power is a danger to Israeli democracy,” he said, urging opposition parties to form a new government as soon as possible, restore the rule of law and prevent state institutions from being used for political purposes.
He warned the heads of the police, Shin Bet and Mossad: “You must be loyal to the law and the State of Israel, not to a prime minister, not to a party and not to any political interest.” Golan described the situation as a security and democratic emergency and urged opposition leaders not to delay forming a government.
Opposition leaders back Eisenkot to form government
The remarks came a day after opposition leaders agreed to recommend Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog to form the next government.
The agreement was reached at a meeting on Tuesday in Herzliya, west-central Israel. It was attended by Eisenkot, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, Golan and opposition leader Yair Lapid.
The leaders pledged to replace Netanyahu’s administration with a “national emergency government” and begin drafting coalition agreements immediately. They accused Netanyahu and his Likud party of seeking to undermine the legitimacy of the election results and the Central Elections Committee.
They also agreed to coordinate parliamentary steps to replace the outgoing government and prevent another election.
Netanyahu’s bloc falls short of a Knesset majority
Israel’s parliamentary elections on Oct. 27 left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while opposition parties won 48 seats and Arab parties secured 19. Neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition parties independently reached the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.
If all opposition and Arab lawmakers recommend Eisenkot, he could receive the backing of 67 lawmakers during Herzog’s consultations. The opposition parties have yet to agree on a governing coalition, however, and Lieberman has ruled out joining a minority government that depends on Arab parties.
Under Israel’s parliamentary system, the president consults elected parties before appointing a lawmaker to form a government. The designated lawmaker initially has 28 days to do so, with a possible extension of up to 14 days. The current government remains in office until a new administration wins the Knesset’s confidence.
The newly elected Knesset is due to hold its inaugural session on Nov. 10. Opposition parties are also seeking to replace incumbent Speaker Amir Ohana, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party.
