Israeli Political Developments on April 25, 2020

On April 25, 2020, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin officially tasked Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White party, with forming a government. This appointment occurred amidst a fraught political landscape characterized by a persistent deadlock between major political parties.

Context and Background

Israel had been experiencing a prolonged period of political instability, marked by three inconclusive general elections over the span of a year. The elections held in April 2019, September 2019, and March 2020 failed to produce a clear winner, leaving neither the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Blue and White party with a definitive majority needed to form a stable government.

Key Political Dynamics

• Benjamin Netanyahu: Serving as Israel’s Prime Minister since 2009, Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as one of the largest parties in the Knesset alongside Gantz’s Blue and White party. Despite this, Netanyahu faced substantive legal challenges, including corruption charges, complicating his ability to secure a straightforward path to governance.

• Benny Gantz: A former military chief of staff, Gantz entered politics with a centrist agenda and focused on challenging Netanyahu’s long-standing political dominance. The Blue and White party’s platform promised greater transparency, moderation, and a departure from Netanyahu’s policies.

The political deadlock in Israel was rooted in deep ideological differences, as well as personal rivalries among party leaders, which made coalition-building exceedingly difficult.

Rivlin’s Decision

President Rivlin’s decision to task Gantz with forming a government reflected an attempt to end the impasse by seeking a broad coalition capable of addressing multiple pending crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability.

Aftermath and Significance

Following the President’s mandate, Gantz entered negotiations with rival parties, including Likud. Despite initial reluctance, these talks eventually led to a power-sharing agreement with Netanyahu. The agreement provided for a rotational government, with Netanyahu serving as Prime Minister for the first 18 months, followed by Gantz. This deal was aimed at breaking the electoral deadlock and ensuring a degree of political continuity necessary for addressing national challenges.

This move marked a significant juncture in Israeli politics, underscoring the complexities of coalition governance within a fragmented parliamentary system, and highlighted the significant influence of both legal considerations and individual leadership in shaping political outcomes.