Netanyahu and Gantz approach an agreement to end the political stalemate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political opponent Benny Gantz are close to reaching an agreement on Tuesday to form a national emergency government to combat the Corona virus crisis and end the unprecedented political deadlock in Israel.

Gantz's 28-day deadline to form a coalition government was due to expire at midnight after the inconclusive elections last month, but President Reuven Rivlin - who oversees the coalition talks - extended the deadline for two days.

His office said Rivlin made the extension "based on the knowledge that they were very close to reaching an agreement."

Gantz and Netanyahu met yesterday at night to try to settle their differences, after which the two parties said they had made "great progress".

A second meeting ended today, Tuesday, with the issuance of a joint statement, in which it was stated that the negotiating teams will resume the talks tomorrow evening Wednesday, that is, hours before the end of the new deadline.

The stalemate raised the possibility of holding a fourth election after the inconclusive elections in April and September 2019 and last month, which hinder any plans for economic recovery once the outbreak of the Corona virus recedes.

Since the political stalemate began a year ago, Israel has run a caretaker government headed by Netanyahu, who faces criminal charges in corruption cases, but Netanyahu denies the charges.

Israeli media reports indicated that the agreement being drafted requires that Netanyahu - who has ruled Israel for 11 years - take over the new government for 18 months, and then it will be headed by former chief of staff Gantz.

Emergency government
"Hey Netanyahu, this is the moment of truth for us. Either a national emergency government or a fourth election will be costly and unjustified at the time of the current crisis," Gantz said today in comments reported by the media.

Gantz added that the seriousness of the Corona virus crisis made him give up the promise he made during the election campaign, that he would not participate in a government led by a prime minister facing criminal charges.

Israel recorded about 12 thousand cases with Covid-19 and 117 deaths, and the severe restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus made most Israelis remain in their homes, forced many companies to close, and led to high unemployment rates of more than 25%.

On Monday, Netanyahu said his government could devise an "exit strategy" from the Coruna virus crisis next weekend, but he warned that restrictions on the economy and education would gradually be eased, and that there would be no full return to normal life before a vaccine was discovered.