Coronavirus turns Israeli politics towards unity

by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will task Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White rival Benny Gantz with forming the next government Sunday, as lawmakers across the political spectrum are calling for an emergency government to deal with the novel coronavirus.

Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett proposed a bill that would postpone the current political situation for six months and ameliorate political differences, saying it was incumbent on Israel to “unite now [and] fight later” in regard to the crisis.

“There is no other way of dealing with this challenge other than a large emergency government with a wide national consensus,” Shas head Arye Deri, from whom Netanyahu frequently takes advice, added in a conversation with Israeli Army Radio Thursday. “Otherwise, it is going to another election, which would be crazy in our situation.”

Even perpetual kingmaker Avigdor Lieberman, who has resisted Netanyahu tooth and nail in all three elections, gave his support to a potential unity government consisting of Likud and Blue and White, which would reach the necessary 61-seat majority in the Knesset with 69 shared seats.

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