Prime Minister Netanyahu , under indictment, had been unable four time to get a government coalition …
The deal has the opposition leader Benny Gantz moving in. the deputy Prime Minister and may clear the way for Netanyahu to go on trial from abuse of power charges…
The agreement, following weeks of tense negotiations and brinkmanship, comes as Israel confronts a burgeoning outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Gantz, who had spent a year battling to unseat the prime minister, cited the public health crisis for his willingness to serve with Netanyahu, whom he had repeatedly called “unfit to lead.”
The deal represents a triumph for Netanyahu, who has pushed relentlessly to extend his record run at the top of Israeli politics. Critics have bemoaned and observers marveled that Israel’s longest-serving prime minister has once again outrun the political obituaries written for him after his party and its allies failed to regain their majority in three straight national elections and he was indicted on corruption charges along the way.
“King Bibi,” as his unshakable base of supporters calls him, still faces trial on multiple counts of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. His trial, initially scheduled for March, was put on hold when the covid-19 outbreak shut down most of Israel’s courts. Netanyahu, who unsuccessfully sought parliamentary immunity earlier this year, is widely expected to use his office to further delay prosecution or to seek some form of official protection.
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