Maneuvers put Israel's Netanyahu on outer

JERUSALEM, Middle East－Israeli nationalist hard-liner Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that he would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country's longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lawmakers opposed to right-wing Netanyahu have been in intense talks ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as a cease-fire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years.

A March vote saw Netanyahu's Likud party gain the most seats in the 120-seat Knesset but he again failed to form a government.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid now has until Wednesday evening local time to build a rival coalition.

Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers.

In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership.

Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said on Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid."

Lapid's and Bennett's parties started talks on Sunday night to formalize the deal, they said in a statement.

Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition.

Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel".

'Dangerous' alliance

Netanyahu had earlier on Sunday tried to cling to power by offering his own, last-ditch power-sharing agreement to several former allies including Bennett. He warned Israel would otherwise be ruled by a dangerous "left-wing" alliance.

Lapid has until 11:59 pm on Wednesday to build a coalition of at least 61 deputies, a majority in the Knesset. A Lapid government would also include the centrist Blue and White party of Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of his former ally Gideon Saar.

Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party would also join.

The shaky arrangement would need the backing of some lawmakers of Palestinian descent in order to pass a confirmation vote in parliament.

The intense talks follow weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes.

The war with Hamas that ended with a May 21 truce, as well as violence in the occupied West Bank and in mixed Jewish-Arab towns in Israel, initially appeared to leave Netanyahu more likely to hold on to power.

But political scientist Gayil Talshir said on Sunday that Israel was now "closer than ever" to a coalition of change, adding: "Netanyahu is in a desperate position".

Agencies - Xinhua