Finally, Israelis Won't Have to Vote Again

Deal averts 4th election in 12 months; Netanyahu will remain PM for now
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 20, 2020 12:25 PM CDT
Deal Averts 4th Israeli Election in 12 Months
A billboard shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, Israeli Former Defense Minister and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu right-wing party Avigdor Lieberman, center, and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, wearing masks in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan, Sunday, March 29, 2020.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival signed an agreement Monday to form an "emergency” government, their parties announced in a joint statement. The deal between Netanyahu’s Likud Party and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year, the AP reports. After March 2 elections ended in a stalemate, the two leaders agreed late last month to try to form an “emergency” unity Cabinet to cope with the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. The deal follows week of negotiations. Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately announced. But Israeli media said it called for a three-year period with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half and Gantz taking the job for the second half. (More Israel stories.)

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