Israel’s president picks Netanyahu opponent Yair Lapid to form government | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Israel’s president picks Netanyahu opponent Yair Lapid to form government | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Israel’s president on Wednesday (May 5) chose Yair Lapid, a centrist politician and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival, to try to form a new government, but his path to success was still uncertain.

Israel’s longest-serving leader, Netanyahu, 71, has been fighting to hold onto office through four inconclusive elections since 2019 and corruption allegations that he denies.

President Reuven Rivlin, in a televised address announcing his choice of Lapid, said the former finance minister had the pledged support of 56 of parliament’s 120 members, still short of a majority.