Bennett tells party members he is headed for a "change government" that will oust Netanyahu

What he's saying: Bennett told the members of the legislature from his party Sunday that Netanyahu has no ability to form a government, and that his claims that he can get members of the center-left bloc to defect and join the right-wing bloc are false.

• Bennett added that the only alternative to a “change government” with the center-left would be a fifth election.
• “Netanyahu will not be able to get a majority again and then we will go to a sixth election. The country can’t continue like that”, Bennet said according to press reports about the meeting.
• A statement by the Yamina party said all members of the legislature who attended the meeting backed Bennett’s effort to form a government and avoid a fifth election.

Worth noting: Under a “change government”, Bennett would serve as prime minister for two years before Lapid rotates into the job. It would be the most wide-ranging coalition ever formed in Israel.

Between the lines: Such a government would be highly fragile, avoid controversial issues, take all decisions in consensus and focus on the economy, post-COVID-19 relief and stabilization of the Gaza ceasefire.

• Even such an agenda would be very hard to implement, and the government could fall apart within months.

What’s next: The new government could be sworn in next Monday — giving Netanyahu a week to try and sabotage it to prevent Lapid and Bennett from acquiring a majority.

What to watch: Bennett will announce his intention to form a government with opposition leader Yair Lapid during a speech at 8 p.m. local time, or 1 p.m. ET.