In theory, Binyamin Netanyahu will hand power over to Benny Gatz in 18 months. Only a minority believe this will happen
caused much misery. But on April 20th it helped end Israel’s political deadlock. After three inconclusive elections in the span of a year, the country’s two biggest parties, Likud and Blue and White, put aside their differences and agreed to form a “national-emergency unity government”. Under the deal, Binyamin Netanyahu, the long-serving prime minister , remains in the post for another 18 months.
Entering the coalition talks, Mr Gantz held a strong hand. A majority of lawmakers in the Knesset endorsed him to be prime minister and he had control of parliamentary business. But his supporters were divided on much else and refused to sit together in government. Some wanted Mr Gantz to threaten Mr Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges, with a law banning indicted politicians from forming a government.
The prime minister was surely pleased. Mr Netanyahu, who heads a bloc of religious and nationalist parties, is likely to remain the real power in Israel even if he does give up the premiership in November 2021. He commands the allegiance of nearly three-quarters of the governing coalition. One of Mr Gantz’s colleagues will control the justice ministry, ensuring that Mr Netanyahu’s corruption trial proceeds as scheduled on May 24th .
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