Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the new unity government he formed to the Knesset yesterday, to end the political deadlock that has lasted for more than a year, as he prepares to appear in court within a week of corruption-related charges.
Under a power-sharing deal with Benny Gantz, his former centrist electoral rival leader of the Blue and White party, Netanyahu will take over as prime minister for 18 months and then hand over to Gantz.
Netanyahu stressed that the new government should work to impose Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements.
"It is time to implement Israeli law and write another chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu told parliament after he mentioned those settlements. Both Netanyahu and his rival partner, Benny Gantz, announced their appointments to the new government, the largest inflation in Israeli history, with 36 ministers and 16 expected representatives.
Last month, Netanyahu and Gantz announced that they would set aside their differences to unite the forces to lead the country during the Corona Virus crisis and its severe economic impacts.
Under their controversial power-sharing deal, Netanyahu takes over as prime minister for the first 18 months before being replaced by Gantz for 18 months. Each of them will also contain a similar number of ministers.
Observers have accused the government of being out of reality by creating many ministerial positions at a time when unemployment has risen to 25% as a result of the Corona virus epidemic.
But because the Netanyahu bloc includes several small parties, he has only a limited number of cabinet positions that can be offered to the Likud party, and he has faced a small rebellion from angry prominent members of the party.
On the other hand, the agreement led to the dissolution of the Gantz party, "Blue and White", after it had broken its primary campaign promise not to work under Netanyahu's leadership, who is charged with corruption and faces a future criminal trial. The coalition agreement that had been scrutinized would not have seen the light of day had it not been for the country's Supreme Court ruling that there were no legal grounds to prevent it.
Gantz will begin his government participation by assuming the post of defense minister, with fellow party leader Gabi Ashkenazi retiring as foreign minister. Netanyahu's senior deputy in the Likud, the outgoing foreign minister, Yisrael Katz, will become finance minister. Yariv Levin, Netanyahu's closest ally, will take over as Speaker of the Knesset.
Netanyahu: “It is time to annex the West Bank settlements, and write another chapter in the history of Zionism.”