Thank you for your reading and interest in the news Coronavirus offers Benjamin Netanyahu a way out of Israel's political deadlock and now with details
Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited the coronavirus threat to call for an emergency national government, a political manoeuvre that would allow him to end a post-election political deadlock and sideline the Arab bloc despite its success.
With no clear path to a ruling coalition after Israel’s third election in less than a year, politicians are under mounting pressure to form a government while Mr Netanyahu is just days away from going on trial for alleged corruption.
Politicians started deal-making while the votes of Israelis in quarantine were still being counted after the March 2 election, negotiating alliances before President Reuven Rivlin meets party leaders on Sunday to pick a premier.
Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party picked up the most seats, 36, but his right-wing bloc stands three seats short of a governing majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The centrist Blue and White party won 33, prompting its leader Benny Gantz to try to piece together an alliance backed by the 15 legislators of the Arab-led Joint List.
The Blue and White leader had appeared on track to clinch a landmark agreement with Arab-Israeli politicians, rejecting the protests of a handful of his allies, when Mr Netanyahu made his surprise proposal.
Employees of the Istanbul Municipality wearing protective gear disinfects a subway carriage to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, in Istanbul. Turkey announced on March 11, 2020 its first coronavirus case, a man who had recently travelled to Europe and is in good health. Turkey has announced several measures in recent weeks to try and stop the virus reaching the country, including thermal cameras at airports, cancelling flights to affected countries and closing its border with Iran. AFP
Palestinian workers wearing protective gear, pray in the courtyard of the al-Omari mosque, after spraying disinfectant products as a means of prevention against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, in Gaza City. AFP
An Iranian couple use an escalator on a pedestrian bridge during coronavirus crises in Tehran, Iran. According to the last report by the Ministry of Health, 10,075 people were diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus and 429 people have died in Iran. EPA
A photograph taken on March 13, 2020 shows the entrance of a mosque that remains shut in the Iranian capital Tehran, after measures were taken to slow down the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. The outbreak of the virus in Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated. Several politicians and officials both sitting and former have been infected, with some dying from the illness. AFP
Iranians wearing face masks and protective gloves go shopping in a bazaar during the coronavirus pandemic in Tehran, Iran. Media reported the Iranian economy is effected by Covid-19 coronavirus crises as many people started to self-quarantine and to stop going out as much as they can. According to the last report by the Ministry of Health, 10,075 people were diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus and 429 people have died in Iran. EPA
People, some wearing protective face masks, walk past shops along outside the Tajrish Bazaar in Iran's capital Tehran. Iran said on March 12 that it had asked the IMF for its first loan in decades to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus disease outbreak that has claimed 429 lives and infected more than 10,000 people. AFP
People, some wearing protective face masks, grocers stalls displaying produce at the Tajrish Bazaar in Iran's capital Tehran. Iran said on March 12 that it had asked the IMF for its first loan in decades to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus disease outbreak that has claimed 429 lives and infected more than 10,000 people. AFP
Lebanese men wearing protective masks smoke water pipe or nargileh in Beirut. Lebanon suspended flights from countries hit hardest by the novel coronavirus after announcing its second death from the pandemic in two days. The Mediterranean nation has recorded at least 61 cases of COVID-19. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Lebanon would suspend all trips to and from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China, the hardest-hit countries. AFP
A member of the Istanbul's Municipality disinfects the Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, in Istanbul. Turkey announced on March 11, 2020 its first coronavirus case, a man who had recently travelled to Europe and is in good health. Turkey has announced several measures in recent weeks to try and stop the virus reaching the country, including thermal cameras at airports, cancelling flights to affected countries and closing its border with Iran. AFP
A civil defence worker sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, outside the Artists Syndicate in Baghdad, Iraq. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, most people recover in about two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the illness. AP Photo
Kuwaiti healthy ministry workers scan expatriates living in Kuwait who returned from Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, as they arrive at a specified place to be tested for coronavirus in Kuwait City. AFP
Qatari police stand outside a hotel in Doha where people have been quarantining over fears of coronavirus. Stock markets in energy-rich Gulf states tumbled today with Saudi shares down more than 4.0 per cent following worldwide losses amid fears over the coronavirus pandemic and an oil price war. Stocks in gas-rich Qatar dropped 5.2 per cent, while bourses in Bahrain and Oman were down 3.5 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively. AFP
A Syrian refugee student takes part in a washing hands activity as part of an awareness campaign about coronavirus initiated by OXFAM and UNICEF at Al Zaatari refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria. Reuters
A municipality worker cleans lamp posts amid a sandstorm and coronavirus fears outside the Luxor Temple in Egypt's southern city of Luxor. AFP
In a televised speech on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu called for “an emergency government for a limited time” to combat the spread of the coronavirus, leaving Mr Gantz with little choice but to discuss the proposal as the electorate confronts measures such as school closures.
“Given the circumstances, we are willing to discuss the possibility of establishing a broad national emergency government, reflective of the entire Israeli public,” Mr Gantz responded.
The remark indicated he would not entirely abandon the Joint List, representing Arab-Israelis who make up about 20 per cent of the population. In the face of ongoing anti-Arab rhetoric from Mr Netanyahu, Palestinian citizens of Israel turned out in greater numbers at the latest election with impressive results.
As the third-largest bloc in parliament, including Israel’s first hijab-wearing Knesset member, the Joint List has clear goals including scrapping discriminatory laws and tackling crime and violence within Arab communities.
“We strive to achieve complete civil and national equality for the Arab society in Israel,” said Joint List member of parliament Heba Yazbak.
She said the Joint List was still deciding whether to recommend Mr Gantz as premier, as it did after the previous election in September.
“One of our main goals is to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government, but we don’t just want to replace the person. We want to change the policy,” she told The National.
“We hope our great achievement in these elections would translate into a meaningful improvement in all aspects of civil life.”
Blue and White party members Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel, as well as Orly Levy-Abekasis from a small opposition alliance, have opposed forming even a minority government with Joint List support but their stance failed to garner wider support.
After Mr Netanyahu pushed for a unity government, a Blue and White spokeswoman affirmed the Joint List would not be included in any administration.
The Arab alliance could be “part of the joint efforts to cope with the coronavirus”, she told The National without elaborating.
Avigdor Lieberman, courted by both sides for the seven seats won by his Yisrael Beiteinu party, said he would support an emergency coalition.
But with or without the involvement of the Joint List, it remains to be seen whether Mr Gantz and Mr Netanyahu are capable of forming a unity government. The proposal was on the table after September’s inconclusive election, but the Likud leader demanded he hold the rotating premiership first.
Mr Gantz, meanwhile, refused to serve under a prime minister embroiled in a corruption scandal. Mr Netanyahu has since been indicted and is due to stand trial on Tuesday, after failing to have the court date postponed.
While Israelis are divided over whether Mr Netanyhau’s latest proposal is intended to save the country or himself, few want the political stalemate to spill over into a fourth election.
After “an exhausting year of elections”, Israel’s president said he welcomed any initiative which will lead to a government. Suggesting that Israeli-Arabs should not be excluded from the process, Mr Rivlin said on Wednesday that in Israel “there are deep disagreements, but no semi-citizens”.
Updated: March 14, 2020 06:42 PM
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