Israeli parliament approves formation of Netanyahu-Gantz ‘national emergency government,’ avoiding fourth election
The Israeli Parliament approved legislation which clears the way for political rivals Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to form a national unity government, in which the two leaders will hold the office of PM on a rotating basis.
The Knesset (parliament) endorsed the formation of the jointly-led Netanyahu-Gantz government by 71 votes to 37 on Thursday, in a move that will ultimately end more than a year of political deadlock and avoid a dreaded fourth election in a row.
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party had said in a statement on Wednesday that the new government will be sworn in next week if the Knesset approved the coalition deal.
Under the agreement, Netanyahu will continue in the role of prime minister for the next 18 months before being replaced by Gantz.
On Wednesday, Israel’s highest court unanimously gave Netanyahu the green light to form a “national emergency government,” despite the fact that he is facing trial on numerous fraud and corruption charges. Netanyahu was indicted for breach of trust and accepting bribes and for fraud in November 2019.
One case against the PM relates to accepting and making demands for gifts from business people over a number of years. Another relates to an alleged bid to negotiate with a newspaper publisher for more favorable news coverage in exchange for legislative attempts to weaken the news organization’s main competitor.
Source: rt.com
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