FRESH AIR

Netanyahu, Gantz agree to form government

April 21, 2020 | Ahron Shapiro

5444418619 Ff187172d4 C

 

Major political developments occurred in Israel overnight, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from the Likud, and his rival, Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party announcing an agreement on a national unity and national emergency government.

The deal effectively puts an end to an unprecedented political impasse which has seen no duly-elected government in Israel since December 2018, and an unprecedented three inconclusive elections in 11 months.

Seeds of the deal began as early as March 12, when Netanyahu and Gantz agreed on the need for a national unity government, and picked up the pace on March 26, with Gantz choosing to split his party over the thorny issue of whether to serve in a rotational government led by Netanyahu – a prime minister under indictment – rather than force new elections.

The agreement was further delayed over haggling on final details, including how judicial appointments would be managed.

Under the terms of the pact, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for the first half of the government’s term, which would be set at three years. Gantz will serve as defence minister and vice prime minister under Netanyahu and Netanyahu has agreed to serve as vice prime minister under Gantz.

According to the 41-clause agreement, the first six months of the government would be considered an emergency government to manage the catastrophic effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on the country.

The agreement calls for the appointment of a record 36 ministers, to be evenly spread between Likud, Blue and White, and their respective political allies. Blue and White is expected to be joined in the government by centre-left stablemate Labor, while the Likud would bring in the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism and Gesher Party leader Orly Levy-Abecassis. The national-religious rightist Yamina party is still deciding whether to join Netanyahu’s bloc in the government.

Meanwhile, Yair Lapid, leader of the secularist Yesh Atid party which left Blue and White over the national unity talks, is expected to lead the opposition in the Knesset. Rounding out the opposition will be the mostly Arab and far-left Joint List, and the progressive-left Meretz and the secularist Yisrael Beitenu parties.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

Screenshot 2025 06 25 At 6.06.49 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Were the goals achieved?

Jun 25, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 24 At 7.12.23 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Will the ceasefire hold?

Jun 24, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 23 At 7.53.42 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – US joins the fight

Jun 23, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot 2025 06 19 At 6.54.53 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Soroka Hospital struck

Jun 19, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Gtpf5KpWIAEbS6T

War Update: Operation Rising Lion: June 18, 2025

Jun 18, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
GtUkBg0aoAA8MiR

War Update: Operation Rising Lion: June 17, 2025

Jun 17, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
D11a774c 2a47 C987 F4ce 2d642e6d9c8d

Bibi in DC, the Houthi threat and the politicised ICJ opinion

Jul 26, 2024 | Update
Image: Shutterstock

Nine months after Oct. 7: Where Israel stands now

Jul 10, 2024 | Update
Palestinian Red Crescent workers from Al-Najjar Hospital in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip (Image: Shutterstock)

Hamas’ impossible casualty figures

Mar 28, 2024 | Update
455daec3 C2a8 8752 C215 B7bd062c6bbc

After the Israel-Hamas ceasefire for hostages deal

Nov 29, 2023 | Update
Screenshot of Hamas bodycam footage as terrorists approach an Israeli vehicle during the terror organisation's October 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, released by the IDF and GPO (Screenshot)

Horror on Video / International Law and the Hamas War

Oct 31, 2023 | Update
Sderot, Israel. 7th Oct, 2023. Bodies of dead Israelis lie on the ground following the attacks of Hamas (Image: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s Sept. 11, only worse

Oct 11, 2023 | Update
Screenshot

Australian government’s response to Iran-Israel conflict ‘disappointing’: Paul Rubenstein on Sky News

Jun 17, 2025 | Video
Screenshot

UNRWA feeds the ‘Palestinian delusion’ of no Jewish state: Dr Einat Wilf on Sky News

Jun 12, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 05 30 At 11.22.09 AM

Albanese urged to visit Israel instead of ‘throwing mud’ over Gaza war: Joel Burnie on Sky News

May 30, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 05 09 At 12.06.51 PM

The Australian elections and the Middle East: Joel Burnie on the Middle East Forum podcast

May 9, 2025 | Video
Screenshot 2025 05 07 At 9.28.49 AM

Greens ran a ‘toxic and divisive’ election campaign for Jewish voters: Joel Burnie on Sky News

May 7, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 04 09 At 12.12.01 PM

Hamas sees live Israeli hostages as their “ultimate insurance policy”: Ehud Yaari on Sky News

Apr 9, 2025 | Featured, Video

RECENT POSTS

Screenshot 2025 06 25 At 6.06.49 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Were the goals achieved?

Israel,And,Iran,Conflict,Concept,With,Burning,Battlefield

AIJAC welcomes Iran-Israel Ceasefire

Screenshot 2025 06 24 At 7.12.23 pm

War Update: Operation Rising Lion – Will the ceasefire hold?

Image: Shutterstock

Letter the Age and Sydney Morning Herald refused to publish

Screenshot

Questions over the legitimacy of the US-Israeli attack on Iran fail to grasp the threat — and the opportunity

SORT BY TOPICS