Likud blasts opposition over coalition that could lean on Arab parties

Likud went on the attack Tuesday, accusing opposition leaders of trying to assemble a government without Benjamin Netanyahu — one that leans on Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties to get there. The party's statement landed just after opposition figures huddled and pledged to form a national emergency government with a parliamentary majority.

The language from Netanyahu's party was sharp. According to Likud, the prime minister had offered a broad national government, while the opposition instead "intend to form a dangerous government reliant on supporters of terrorism." Likud also pressed on how such a coalition would handle confrontations with Hamas and Hezbollah.

There's a wrinkle in that attack. Most Jewish opposition parties have already ruled out depending on Arab parties to build a government, so Likud is hammering a setup those parties say they aren't chasing.

The trigger was last week's election, which stripped Likud of nine Knesset seats. That result set off the opposition meeting where leaders committed to putting together a national emergency government backed by a majority in parliament.

What's next comes down to arithmetic and nerve: whether the opposition can turn that pledge into a working majority, and how loudly Likud keeps swinging while it tries.