Israel struggles to form
emergency unity government
 |
| Resident of the Israael city of Brei Brak near Tel Aviv wears a protective mask (AFP) |
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main
rival, Benny Gantz, have said a unity government deal was close which could
break the country's ongoing political deadlock.
By Nathan Morley
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main
rival, Benny Gantz, have said a unity government deal was close which could
break the country's ongoing political deadlock.
Israel has been in political deadlock for 18-months.
But now Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz said in separate
statements that ‘substantial progress was made’ in a meeting on Monday. That
prompted Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin to grant extra time to try and form a
unity government.
The two men now have until the end of Wednesday to forge a
deal.
Gantz has now changed tack. He had originally promised to
form a government without Netanyahu, but now says an emergency unity government
is needed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Israel now stands at 11,868.
The death toll from the virus has reached 117 people.
If the two men fail to reach an agreement, Israel faces a
fourth election after three previous rounds produced inconclusive results.
Netanyahu has led a caretaker since December 2018.
Separately, Netanyahu has announced a re-tightening of
anti-Covid measures ahead of the Jewish holiday of Second Passover this week.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét