Israel: Netanyahu and Gantz form emergency government

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ex-rival Benny Gantz announced on Monday April 20 the formation of a government of unity and emergency, ending the longest political crisis in the history of the country in the midst of a pandemic from Covid-19. 

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It took 16 months of transitional government, three legislative elections and, above all, an epidemic of coronavirus to get there. This Monday evening, just before the start of Yom Hashoah, the "day of the Shoah", which is held from sunset Monday to dusk Tuesday in Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz met to seal their union . "  An agreement for the formation of a national emergency government has been signed  " by the head of Likud (right) and the leader of the Bleu-Blanc party (centrist), said the formations of the two former electoral opponents in a press release .

On March 2, after new legislative elections, the third in less than a year which were finally to decide between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, President Reuven Rivlin had entrusted the centrist with the task of forming the next government . In the midst of a new coronavirus pandemic, it had created surprise by paving the way for a government of “unity and urgency” with Benyamin Netanyahu accused of corruption in a series of cases, thus reneging on his commitment not to share power with the outgoing Prime Minister, as long as the latter has not resolved his problems with the law.

But last week, Gantz's term had expired and the Israeli president had mandated the Knesset, the parliament, to propose in a little less than three weeks, a new elected official to try to form a government. At the same time, the camps of the two rivals, who together have a majority of votes in Parliament, had continued their talks with a view to forming a unity government.

Prime Minister alternating

But these discussions seemed to come up against an obstacle: the procedure for the appointment of judges, a crucial point as the trial of Benjamin Netanyahu is due to open next month. Finally, the agreement signed this evening provides that the two parties will have representatives on the commission responsible for appointing magistrates. But Benyamin Netanyahu obtains a right of veto over the appointment of the two main prosecutors in the country, specifies our correspondent in Jerusalem, Guilhem Delteil .

The two former adversaries should alternate government, both obtaining the title of alternating prime minister during the entire legislature. Benyamin Netanyahu can stay in government after he leaves the post of Prime Minister to Benny Gantz despite his indictments. He will also be able to start annexing several parts of the West Bank from July, in accordance with Donald Trump's plan. This agreement, which takes back many of its campaign positions, nevertheless arouses the anger of some of its traditional partners: the nationalist religious group believes that it cannot be part of this government. Likud must now have this agreement validated by the right-wing formations which have been part of its government until now.

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• Israel
• Benyamin netanyahu