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

(image: Shutterstock/Svet Foto)

Military strikes alone won’t stop the Houthis without direct pressure on Iran

Mar 20, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Image: X

Pay-for-Slay is likely still Pay-for-Slay

Mar 7, 2025 | Fresh AIR
Image: X

The missing pieces of the Thai hostages story

Feb 21, 2025 | Fresh AIR
Damaged section of Kamal Adwan Hospital (image: World Health Organisation)

The latest IDF raid on the Kamal Adwan Hospital debunks absurd UN report

Jan 9, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (left), the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the late commander of the IRGC's Qods Force Qassem Soleimani

The Axis of Resistance is not dead yet

Dec 19, 2024 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Iranian women being ushered into a van by "Morality police" (Image: X)

Iranian human rights have significantly worsened since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests

Dec 18, 2024 | 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 2025 03 28 At 11.35.48 AM

The day after the end of the Gaza war – and the new opportunities it presents: Ehud Yaari at the Sydney Institute

Mar 28, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot

Jonathan Conricus in conversation with Joel Burnie

Feb 24, 2025 | Featured, Video
Sydney, January 2025 (Image: X)

Reacting to the latest antisemitic attacks: Colin Rubenstein on SBS Hebrew radio

Feb 3, 2025 | Video
Screenshot

Antisemitic bomb plot “a massive escalation”: Colin Rubenstein on Sky News

Jan 30, 2025 | Featured, Video
(Image: screenshot)

Antisemitism database “first step of many more that need to be taken”: Dr Colin Rubenstein on ABC TV

Jan 22, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2024 12 20 At 12.44.43 PM

AIJAC speaks out against hate… Will you join us?

Dec 20, 2024 | Featured, Video

RECENT POSTS

A “deep well of hatred” in segments of the Muslim community contributed to the recent outburst  of extremism and antisemitism in Australia (Image: Diana Zavaleta/ Shutterstock)

Essay: The Politics of Hatred

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (left) may hint at agreeing to nuclear negotiations, but it is Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (right) who will ultimately make the decision (Image: Khamenei.ir)

Iran: Moving beyond diplomatic delusions

A statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments (Image: Shutterstock)

The Last Word: One Story

Israeli PM Netanyahu controversially announces he needs to fire Shit Bet chief Ronen Bar (Screenshot)

Marching toward controversy and division

With leader Alice Weidel, Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) have a presentable face, but Europe's Jewish communities remain wary of far right populism (Image: Shutterstock)

Europa Europa: Going to extremes

SORT BY TOPICS