Analysis: "Previously unthinkable corona government is expected in Israel"

Late tonight the deadline expires. Now comes reports of "significant progress" in the talks to end the deadlock that has crippled Israel's politics for more than a year.

According to media reports, it is envisaged that Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the country as prime minister for 18 months and that Gantz will then take over for an equally long period.

The March election was the third in less than a year, and the tone between the two opponents has been tough and merciless.

Former Army commander Gantz is relatively new in politics and has repeated that he will put a stop to Netanyahu's rule, and that he would never sit in a government led by Netanyahu as long as he was suspected of corruption.

As a result, many angered Gantz's supporters when he made a full reversal after the March election, signaling that he was ready to join a national emergency government because of the Corona pandemic.

Protesters with black flags have protested what they believe is a "danger to democracy" outside his and his party members' homes.

Benjamin Netanyahu has long dominated Israeli politics and is the head of government that has been the longest in the country's history. He is also the first to be prosecuted during his time at the Prime Minister's post. He himself denies the allegations of bribery, fraud and unfaithfulness against the principal and has called the corruption charge a political witch hunt.

Neither of the two rivals won any clear victory in the March elections - but Gantz received slightly greater support than Netanyahu and was therefore given the assignment by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to try to form a government.

At the same time, it was clear that both Gantz's party Kahol Lavan and Netanyahu's Likud Party would fail to build a coalition separately for Israel's corona virus.

The country has imposed severe restrictions, schools and many companies have been closed and travel between cities has been banned. So far, at least 118 people have died in the pandemic.

Netanyahu and Gantz are far from each other in several political issues, not least Netanyahu has promised to have all Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank incorporated with Israel if he is allowed to form government, something Gantz opposed.

Another conflict concerns the corruption suspicions against Netanyahu. According to political analysts, Netanyahu may seek prosecution immunity if he remains in the Prime Minister's post.

After a year of political stalemate, a unifying government can create a temporary consensus in a deeply divided Israel. But it is unlikely that they will succeed in bridging the political cracks in the country in the longer term.

If tonight's deadline is passed, the Israeli parliament Knesset will have three weeks to appoint a prime ministerial candidate. If this also fails, new elections must be conducted.

That would mean an even more prolonged political crisis while Israel is in the midst of the fight against covid-19.