Inside Story

Is this the end of Netanyahu’s 12-year stint as Israel’s PM?

Benjamin Netanyahu’s rivals have united to form a new coalition.

Israel’s fragile coalition is preparing for its first test of survival but the man it is trying to push from power is not going without a fight.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused his old allies-turned-rivals of selling out to form the new coalition, which includes hardline right-wingers, liberals and – historically – a party representing some Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Netanyahu is trying to woo potential defectors away before Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, holds a confidence vote.

So, is this the dawn of a new political era in Israel? And after the recent conflict in Gaza, will anything change for Palestinians?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie

Guests:

Neri Zilber – Adjunct fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Mouin Rabbani – Co-editor of the Jadaliyya online magazine, which is produced by the Arab Studies Institute

Martin Indyk – Former US ambassador to Israel and distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations