San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
NETANYAHU OFFERS TO STEP DOWN IN UNITY DEAL
Israel’s prime minister Saturday said he is ready to step down next year as part of a proposed power-sharing agreement with his chief rival meant to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and end a yearlong political deadlock.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his proposal during a nationally televised interview, calling for the formation of a threeyear “emergency” unity government with the rival Blue and White Party.
Netanyahu told Channel 12 TV that he would remain as prime minister for the first year and a half, and allow Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to assume the post for a second year-anda-half term in September 2021. He said each party would have an equal number of seats in the Cabinet.
“I will give up the prime minister’s post in another year and a half,” Netanyahu said.
Yair Lapid, a senior Blue and White leader, dismissed Netanyahu’s unity offer as insincere. “Next week, we will go to choose a new parliament speaker and work to battle coronavirus for the good of the people,” he said.
Israel is facing a growing threat from the coronavirus pandemic. It has detected nearly 900 cases and on Friday reported its first death. With the public largely confined to their homes, the economy appears to be in great danger, with tens of thousands of people losing their jobs.
Blue and White has accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to undermine the country’s democratic institutions and try to derail his scheduled trial on corruption charges. Senior members of Gantz’ party have expressed skepticism at previous powersharing overtures by Netanyahu, concerned that he would not follow through on his promises to cede power.
Israel this month held its third inconclusive election in under a year. Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest single party, but fell short of securing a required parliamentary majority. A slim majority of lawmakers has endorsed Gantz as their choice for prime minister, though it is unclear whether he will be able to cobble together a governing coalition either.