Benny Gantz expected to be granted two-week extension to finalise deal for coalition government

Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash9

Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White parties have been unable to finalise a deal for an emergency unity government by today’s deadline.

Disagreements over issues like ministerial appointments and Israeli settlements in the West Bank have led to significant political deadlock for over a year.

If a pending two-week extension to the negotiations is approved by President Reuven Rivlin, the Blue and White-Likud coalition would likely form a rotating government, in which the leaders of each party act as prime minister for 18 months, beginning with Netanyahu. However, this plan is controversial: by supporting it, Gantz would break a long-time promise to his party to not rule with Netanyahu.

An emergency unity government is becoming increasingly necessary in Israel. As of Saturday, over 10,000 cases and 100 deaths were attributed to COVID-19, and the virus shows little sign of slowing. If Gantz receives an extension, both he and Netanyahu will face immense pressure to iron out the final details of a deal in the coming two weeks.

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