Ra'am's coalition demands for Likud said to make no references to Nation-state Law

Bezalel Smotrich, head of Israel's Religious Zionism party, is making a strong stand against the prospect of a right-wing government backed by the Arab Islamist Ra'am partyChannel 12 reports.

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According to the report, Smotrich views such government as a less favorable option than a coalition that would be led by Yesh Atid, chaired by Yair Lapid, and Yamina, spearheaded by Naftali Bennett.

Such a coalition would still require Arab support -- either Ra'am or Joint List, if not both.

On Saturday, Yesh Atid chief is meeting with Benny Gantz, Israel's Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister, as he hopes to unseat Netanyahu, who received the mandate to form Israel's next government. Tomorrow, he is expected to hold a press conference on his efforts to cobble up a coalition. Read more at i24