Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convinced his former challenger Benny Gantz to form a unity government.
The deal keeps Netanyahu in office while he battles corruption charges and extends his tenure as the country’s longest-serving leader. It also ends a yearlong political impasse that resulted in three elections.
A fourth election would have been held Aug. 4 if a deal was not reached by May 7.
The move is seen as a political risk for Gantz, who said he would never serve with a prime minister who was under criminal indictment.
As part of the deal, Netanyahu will remain as prime minister for another 18 months and then will be replaced by Gantz, who will serve as vice prime minister in the meantime. Netanyahu will then become vice prime minister under Gantz.
“I promised the State of Israel a national emergency government that will work to save lives and livelihoods of Israeli citizens,” Netanyahu said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We prevented a fourth election,” Gantz said. “We will protect our democracy and fight against the coronavirus.”
