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WORLD NEWS Monday 16 March 2020

Netanyahu rival Gantz chosen to form new Israeli government

By JOSEF FEDERMAN Rivlin had earlier called
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli for a power-sharing unity
opposition leader Benny government to lead the
Gantz will be given the country through its many
first opportunity to form a crises. Israel has gone
new government after an through three inconclusive
inconclusive national elec- elections in the past year,
tion this month, the coun- leaving it with a caretaker
try’s president said Sunday, government as it confronts
raising questions about a host of challenges, in-
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- cluding the coronavirus
tanyahu’s political future. battle. If the two rivals can-
The decision by President not reach a unity deal, the
Reuven Rivlin was an- country could find itself in a
nounced by his office after fourth consecutive election
he consulted with leaders campaign.
of all of the parties elected “Anyone who has watched
to parliament. He will for- the news in recent days un-
mally designate Gantz with derstands that this is a time
the task on Monday and of trial, and that these are
give him a month to cob- not regular consultations,”
ble together a governing Rivlin said earlier Sunday.
coalition. “We must now deal with
The political wrangling forming a government as
comes at a sensitive time. soon as possible ... at this
Netanyahu has been lead- complex time.”Rivlin’s du-
ing the country as it con- ties are largely ceremonial.
fronts a growing corona- But he is responsible for des-
virus threat, with over 200 ignating the candidate he
cases diagnosed and the thinks has the best chance
number quickly rising. Ne- of forming a government
tanyahu also faces serious by securing a parliamen- In this Saturday, March 7, 2020 file photo, Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz delivers a
legal troubles as he pre- tary majority. statement in Tel Aviv, Israel.
pares to go on trial to face That usually goes to the Associated Press
corruption charges. leader of the largest party,
Netanyahu’s Likud in this case Netanyahu. But missed the offers as insin- cluding one that would see the court said it was push-
emerged as the largest after a slim majority en- cere. an alternating leadership ing back the hearing until
party in the March 2 elec- dorsed Gantz on Sunday, Although Gantz’s chances between them over the May 24.
tion, Israel’s third in under Rivlin appeared to have of forming a new govern- course of four years. Netanyahu is accused of
a year. But with his smaller little choice. ment appear slim, receiv- Gantz’s centrist Blue and receiving expensive gifts
religious and nationalist al- Gantz will face a difficult ing the “mandate” from White party seems to con- from wealthy friends and
lies, he received the sup- task securing a governing Rivlin could strengthen his sider the outreach yet an- offering to exchange fa-
port of only 58 lawmakers coalition. position in unity talks with other ruse after what has vors with powerful media
during Sunday’s consulta- The parties that endorsed Netanyahu, said Yochan- been an extremely acri- moguls. The long-ruling
tions, leaving his right-wing him have little in common an Plesner, president of the monious campaign that in- Israeli leader denies any
bloc three seats short of the beyond their shared an- Israel Democracy Institute. cluded unfounded smears wrongdoing.
required majority in parlia- tipathy toward Netanyahu, During the transition pe- against Gantz. Much of the country was
ment. who has led the country riod, Blue and White is ex- Over the past week, the at a standstill Sunday, with
Gantz’s Blue and White re- for the past 11 years. They pected to name one of coronavirus scare has schools, malls and places of
ceived the support of par- include the predominantly its members as speaker overshadowed Israel’s pre- entertainment shut down.
ties representing 61 seats, Arab Joint List and the ultra- of the parliament and to carious political standoff, Employees were encour-
a slim majority. However, nationalist Yisrael Beitenu. pass legislation that would which comes as Netanya- aged to work from home
those parties are also di- Yisrael Beitenu’s leader, prevent an indicted politi- hu prepares to go on trial and strict restrictions have
vided, and it is not clear Avigdor Lieberman, and cian from forming a new for corruption charges. been placed on personal
whether Gantz will suc- two members of Gantz’s government. That legisla- Netanyahu got an impor- interactions.
ceed in putting together own Blue and White party tion would impede Netan- tant reprieve Sunday when The virus has spread to
a coalition. One lawmaker have said they would op- yahu’s chances of victory the Jerusalem court han- more than 100 countries,
refused to endorse either pose a government that if the country is forced into dling the case postponed infected more than 150,000
side. relies on support from the a fourth election and push his trial for two months be- people worldwide and
Given the likelihood of con- Joint List. Lieberman told him toward compromise. cause of restrictions con- killed more than 5,700. In Is-
tinued deadlock, Rivlin late the president that he sup- “Both sides will say that nected to the coronavirus rael, over 200 people have
Sunday summoned both ports Gantz, but also called they support unity. You only pandemic. been infected.
Netanyahu and Gantz to for the formation of an have one minor question: He was scheduled to ap- For most people, the coro-
an emergency meeting, “emergency” unity govern- Who goes first and for how pear in court Tuesday to navirus causes only mild
where the men pledged ment to deal with the coro- long and so on,” said Ple- face charges of fraud, or moderate symptoms,
to explore a unity govern- navirus threat. sner. breach of trust and ac- such as fever and cough.
ment. Netanyahu, in his caretaker Netanyahu formally ex- cepting bribes in connec- For some, especially old-
In a joint statement, both role, has invited Gantz to tended an offer Sunday tion to a series of scandals. er adults and people
parties thanked Rivlin and join him in an emergency to Gantz to join a govern- But following the emer- with existing health prob-
said their leaders “agreed government. Gantz has left ment aimed at at halting gency health measures the lems, it can cause more
for the respective negotia- the door open to such an the spread of the virus, sug- government enacted re- severe illness, including
tion teams to meet soon.” arrangement, but also dis- gesting two frameworks, in- stricting public gatherings, pneumonia.q