Netanyahu’s leading foe now will serve in his government
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold on to power after his chief rival, Benny Gantz, reversed himself Thursday and signaled that he would be open to serving in a Netanyahu-led government.
Gantz, a former Israeli army chief who had vowed to bring Netanyahu’s long rule to an end and fought him to a draw in three elections, said he was changing course to help bring the country together to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
“These are unusual times, and they call for unusual decisions,” Gantz said in a speech to parliament Thursday.
“This is not the time for infighting and mudslinging,” he said. “This is not the time for controversy and divisions. This is the time for responsible, committed, patriotic leadership. Let’s join hands and get Israel out of this crisis.”
The move was a 180-degree reversal and broke countless campaign promises by Gantz. Netanyahu has been indicted on criminal corruption charges, and Gantz had vowed not to serve in a government led by a prime minister under indictment.
Gantz said he would
“explore the formation of a national emergency government” because of the coronavirus, which has claimed eight lives in Israel, infected thousands and devastated the country’s economy.
Gantz’s move immediately led to the breakup of his centrist Blue and White party.
He may also have doomed his own political future as a credible alternative to Netanyahu, some analysts said. Others said a unity government would offer Gantz his best chance of taking over as prime minister in the future.
The shape of a new government and of Gantz’s role in it were not immediately clear. As an interim move, Gantz nominated himself for the position of parliament speaker, acquiescing to a key demand by Netanyahu, and was voted into that position Thursday.
Netanyahu had been urging Gantz to join forces with him to fight the coronavirus crisis after the most recent election, on March 2, left neither of them in a position to form a majority government.