City
Epaper

Netanyahu announces success in forming new govt

By IANS | Published: May 14, 2020 10:45 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally notified President Reuven Rivlin that he was able to form a government, after ...

Open in App

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally notified President Reuven Rivlin that he was able to form a government, after 18-month-long political deadlock.

In a letter to President Rivlin on Wednesday, Netanyahu informed them that he has "succeeded in forming a government", which he will present to Parliament on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agnency.

Netanyahu was tasked by Rivlin to put together a new government after Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, failed to do so following the March 2 elections, the third in 12 months.

Netanyahu and Gantz, two former bitter rivals, signed a deal to form a power-sharing government in April.

Under the unprecedented agreement, Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for at least 18 months before being replaced by Gantz.

Gantz will serve as Defence Minister and "alternate Prime Minister", a title which did not exist before in Israeli politics.

He resigned as Parliament Speaker on Tuesday night, ahead of the swearing-in of the new government.

In place of Gantz, Yariv Levin, tourism minister and Netanyahu's close associate, will be appointed as the speaker.

Netanyahu's long-time pro-settler ally, the Yamina party, apparently will not join the unity government.

Both Yamina, headed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and Netanyahu's Likud party announced on Wednesday that they could not reach an agreement over which portfolios will be held by Yamina.

The new government will be inaugurated after three rounds of elections that produced inconclusive results and some 18 months during which Israel did not have a permanent government, paralyzing Israel's political arena.

It is slated to be the largest in Israel's history with between 34 to 36 ministerial portfolios.

The excess comes at a time when the projections for the Israeli economy were that it will shrink in 2020 and there are approximately one million unemployed people.

According to the deal reached between Gantz and Netanyahu, Israel could begin to move on annexation of parts of the West Bank as early as July as part of the implementation of the US peace plan for Israelis and Palestin.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: parliamentBenjamin NetanyahuXinhuaReuven Rivlin
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalParliament Session From June 24 to July 3, Says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

NationalRahul Gandhi Should Be Appointed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Says CWC Resolution: Sources

NationalDelhi Police Arrest 3 Individuals for Using Forged Aadhaar Cards to Enter Parliament Complex

InternationalIsrael: “Resettling Gaza Was Never in the Cards,” Says PM Benjamin Netanyahu

MaharashtraSalary Disparities: Why State Assembly MLAs Earn More than Lok Sabha MPs Despite Differences in Constituency Sizes

International Realted Stories

InternationalIsrael Defense Force Says 8 Soldiers Killed in Blast in Gaza’s Rafah

InternationalIraqi Shiite Militia Claims Missile Attack on Haifa in Northern Israel

InternationalAwami Muslim League chief accuses General Bajwa of toppling Imran Khan-led govt

InternationalUS Shooting: 10 People, Including Children, Shot at Rochester Hills Splash Pad in Michigan After Gunman Opens Fire (Watch Video)

InternationalLeft-wing activist back in Italy after detention in Hungary