Page 27 - bon-dia-aruba-20200421

A27
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 21 april 2020
Israeli coalition deal keeps Netanyahu in power

By TIA GOLDENBERG the indicted Netanyahu
Associated Press from serving as prime min-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli ister in the future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- But with the virus crisis wors-
tanyahu and his chief rival ening, and his own shaky
announced Monday that alliance fraying, Gantz
they have forged a deal made an about-face late
to form a coalition gov- last month and accepted
ernment, ending months an offer from Netanyahu to
of political paralysis and pursue a joint government
averting what would have to deal with the pandemic.
been a fourth consecutive The move drew heavy criti-
election in just over a year. cism from Gantz's support-
Netanyahu and former ers and tore apart his Blue
military chief Benny Gantz, and White alliance.
leader of the Blue and Negotiations continued
White party, signed the even after Gantz' allotted
power-sharing agreement time to build a coalition
after weeks of negotiations ended last week.
for what they termed a "na- The Knesset, or parliament,
tional emergency" govern- had been given until May
ment meant to steer the 7 to select a candidate for
country through the coro- prime minister. Otherwise, it
navirus outbreak. would automatically have
Although Netanyahu re- been dissolved and trig-
peatedly came up short A woman wears a protective face mask amid concerns over the country's coronavirus outbreak, gered new elections.
in three elections over take part in a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, April On Sunday night, several
the past year, the coali- 19, 2020. thousand demonstrators,
tion agreement returns the Associated Press. including Gantz's former
long-serving leader to the political partner Yair La-
premiership, defying critics left both men short of a gotiations revolved largely crisis. In the meantime, they pid, gathered in Tel Aviv to
who predicted his downfall required parliamentary around Netanyahu's cor- will work on a "policy out- protest the emerging deal.
and restoring his reputa- majority, Netanyahu and ruption trial, set to start next line" for a long-term unity Protesters accused Netan-
tion as a political wizard. It Gantz agreed to try to form month. government. yahu of using the corona-
means that Netanyahu will a unity government be- Main sticking points includ- The deal could clear the virus crisis to shield himself
almost certainly remain in cause of the burgeoning ed a demand by the prime way for Netanyahu's cam- from prosecution and ac-
office for the duration of his coronavirus crisis. minister to have more say paign promise to annex cused Gantz of abandon-
upcoming trial on corrup- The talks stalled several on judicial appointments, large parts of the West ing his central campaign
tion charges. times, reportedly over which could play a role if Bank after July 1. Gantz has promises.
The deal calls for a three- Netanyahu's personal le- his case eventually reaches raised concerns about the "You don't fight corruption
year period, with Netanya- gal problems, sparking the Supreme Court. plan, which is bitterly op- from within. If you're inside,
hu serving as prime minister concern that they would Political analyst Avraham posed by the Palestinians you're part of it," Lapid said.
for the first half, and Gantz plunge the country into Diskin, who was involved in and much of the interna- Netanyahu is desperate to
taking the job for the sec- new elections. crafting some of the coali- tional community, saying it remain in office throughout
ond half. The deal required major tion deal, said guarantees could only take place with the trial, using his position to
Gantz's party will take con- compromise by both men. by both sides were critical. broad international sup- lash out at his enemies and
trol of a number of senior During three bitter cam- Netanyahu wanted a port. rally public opposition to his
government ministries, in- paigns over the past year, guarantee he would not Palestinian official Saeb prosecutors.
cluding defense. Gantz and his Blue and be forced to resign after Erekat said the new gov- Netanyahu is awaiting trial
The agreement delivers White party vowed never Gantz takes over as prime ernment would have two on charges of accepting
Netanyahu a significant to serve in a government minister. Israeli law requires options: "to either open bribes, breach of trust and
boost as he fights to hold under Netanyahu so long all public officials, with the the doors for a meaningful fraud. He has denied any
on to power while fend- as he faces a slew of cor- exception of the prime peace process or to further wrongdoing and portrays
ing off corruption charges. ruption charges. After 11 minister, to step down if jeaopardize any hope for himself as a victim of a me-
His party will gain influence years as prime minister, charged with a crime. peace." dia and judicial witch hunt.
over judicial appointments. Netanyahu agreed to step For Blue and White, that Last month's election, just Citing the coronavirus crisis,
The deal also requires the aside and allow Gantz to meant assurances that Ne- like the campaigns last Netanyahu's hand-picked
approval of both parties on take the job, if the coalition tanyahu wouldn't topple September and April, end- justice minister has already
key appointments includ- manages to survive long the government before ed with no clear winner. delayed the trial by two
ing the attorney general enough. Gantz becomes prime min- But with a slight majority of months by shuttering most
and the state prosecutor — "We prevented a fourth ister, Diskin said. lawmakers endorsing him, of the court system.
granting Netanyahu veto election," Gantz tweeted. "There was a total lack of Gantz was chosen first by Israel has identified more
power over the officials "We will protect democ- trust," he said. "I pray that the country's figurehead than 13,000 cases of the
who hold sway over his le- racy. We will battle corona the government will hold president to try to build a coronavirus, with 172
gal fate. and we will worry about all up and won't miss the op- coalition government. deaths.
"I promised the state of Is- the citizens of Israel." portunity with fights over The glue holding together While this week the coun-
rael a national emergency While the government was nonsense." Gantz's different backers try began relaxing some of
government that will work ostensibly formed to deal In a joint statement, the was their shared animosity its health restrictions, hun-
to save the lives and liveli- with the coronavirus pan- parties said they would toward Netanyahu. dreds of thousands are out
hoods of the citizens of Is- demic, which has killed form a six-month "emer- Gantz began to move for- of work and the economy
rael," Netanyahu tweeted. over 170 Israelis and rav- gency" government fo- ward with legislation that has come to a standstill.q
After March 2 elections aged the economy, ne- cused on the coronavirus would have disqualified