The former electoral rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former head of the Israeli army Benny Gantz will be Minister of Defense for the first half of the mandate of the government of union and emergency, he announced, Tuesday, April 21, in the evening.

After 16 months of political crisis and three elections that failed to decide between the two men, Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz initialed on Monday an agreement to form a unity government before the holding of elections in three years.

The agreement calls for a government of 32 ministers for the first six months to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, and then 36, the largest cabinet in Israeli history.

>> Read: In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz form a government of national unity

Each camp will equally share the ministries, with the Defense and Justice portfolios for Benny Gantz and his allies, and the Finance and Health portfolios for Benjamin Netanyahu and his acolytes.

Benjamin Netanyahu, whose corruption trial has been postponed due to the crisis, will be Prime Minister for the first 18 months, after which he will be replaced by Benny Gantz.

Split within Bleu-Blanc after the decision of Benny Gantz

The latter confirmed, Tuesday evening, that he would be Minister of Defense during these 18 months, thus replacing Naftali Bennett, leader of a formation of the radical right, allied in recent months to Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I will be Minister of Defense and then in due time the Prime Minister of all citizens," said this professional soldier, chief of staff during the last two wars in the Gaza Strip (2012 and 2014) and defender of a hard line against Hamas, an armed Islamist movement that controls the Palestinian enclave.

>> To read: Benny Gantz, cantor of "everything except Netanyahu"

"This is the biggest health, social and economic crisis in the history of this country when we are experiencing the worst political crisis since the creation of the state. I chose to protect democracy and fight against coronavirus by forming with the Prime Minister a government of unity and urgency, "added the head of the centrist formation" Bleu-Blanc "who split up after his decision to reach out to Benjamin Netanyahu.

The former number two of "Bleu-Blanc", Yaïr Lapid, lambasted Benny Gantz Tuesday evening for having made a pact with Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I apologize to everyone I have convinced to vote for Benny Gantz and Bleu-Blanc in the past year. I didn't think they were going to steal your votes and give them to Netanyahu [... ] This is the worst act of fraud in the country's history, "said Yaïr Lapid, now head of a center-left opposition party.

With AFP

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