Benjamin Netanyahu choose Benny Gantz to form new Israeli government
Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday decided to give opposition leader Benny Gantz the first opportunity to form a new government following an inconclusive national election this month.
President Reuven Rivlin’s office announced his decision late on Sunday after consulting with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament.
The decision raises questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future as he leads the country’s battle against the coronavirus threat and prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.
Mr Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party in the March 2 election, Israel’s third in under a year. But with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, he received the support of only 58 legislators during Sunday’s consultations, leaving Likud three seats short of a majority in parliament.
Mr Gantz’s Blue and White received the support of parties representing 61 seats, a slim majority. However, those parties are also divided, and it is not clear whether Mr Gantz will succeed in putting together a coalition.
Mr Rivlin said he would formally designate Mr Gantz with the task on Monday. Once formally tapped, Mr Gantz will now have a month to cobble together a governing coalition.
Given the possibility of continued deadlock, Mr Rivlin summoned both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz to an emergency meeting late on Sunday.
The president had suggested the two men form a power-sharing unity government to lead the country through its many crises.
“Anyone who has watched the news in recent days understands that this is a time of trial, and that these are not regular consultations,” he said. “We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible … at this complex time.”
Over the past week, the coronavirus scare has overshadowed the Israel’s political standoff, which comes as Mr Netanyahu prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.
Mr Netanyahu got an important reprieve on Sunday when the Jerusalem court handling the case postponed his trial for two months because of restrictions connected to the coronavirus outbreak.
Netanyahu was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. But following the emergency health measures the government enacted restricting the gathering of people in public places, the court announced that it was pushing back the hearing until May 24.
While Mr Gantz is backed by a slim majority, the opposition is deeply fragmented. Yisrael Beitenu’s leader, Avigdor Lieberman, and two Blue and White members have said they would oppose a government that relies on support from the predominantly Arab Joint List. Another legislator who was originally supportive of Mr Gantz has refused to endorse either side.
Mr Lieberman told the president that he supported Mr Gantz, but also called for the formation of an “emergency” unity government to deal with the coronavirus threat, something proposed by Mr Netanyahu last week.
On Sunday Mr Netanyahu formally extended an offer to Mr Gantz to join a government aimed at at halting the spread of the virus, suggesting two frameworks, including one that would see an alternating leadership between them over the course of four years.
Much of Israel ground to a standstill on Sunday, with schools, malls and places of entertainment shut down. Employees were encouraged to work from home and strict restrictions have been placed on personal interactions. About 200 people have been infected with no casualties yet, as severe measures seem to have proven effective so far.
The virus has spread to more than 100 countries, infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,700.
