Israel, amid crisis, swears in officials
Gantz offers three bills to knock out Netanyahu
JERUSALEM – Israel swore in its newly elected parliament Monday under stringent restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak, in a surreal ceremony reflecting the country’s unprecedented dual crisis in politics and public health.
Instead of the typical festive gathering of parliament’s 120, the new lawmakers took the oath of office in groups of three over 40 staggered rounds, in keeping with a Health Ministry ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin presided over the unusual event after the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, was thoroughly sprayed with disinfectant.
The president opened the first session of parliament before an empty chamber save for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz.
Rivlin called for unity and compromise from the two leaders, saying the Israeli people “are in need of rest, we are in need of healing” after three parliamentary elections in under a year.
Rivlin on Monday formally designated Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, the task of forming a coalition after the retired military chief secured a slim majority of recommendations from lawmakers.
Gantz promised to “do whatever it takes to form within as few days as possible a national, patriotic and broad government.”
Gantz’s Blue and White party submitted three bills to parliament Monday that seek to oust Netanyahu from office. The first proposes a two-term limit to the premiership, the second bars prime ministers from serving while under indictment, and the third would prohibit giving the task of forming a government to an indicted lawmaker.
During the transition period, his Blue and White party is expected to name one of its members as speaker of the parliament. But it remains unclear whether these bills will garner enough support to pass.
With continued deadlock likely, and the prospect of yet another election, Rivlin summoned Netanyahu and Gantz Sunday to an emergency meeting in hopes of cajoling them into forming a unity government.