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The Jewish Chronicle

Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz on the brink of a deal, but key differences remain

Disagreements on judicial appointments are proving to be a last-minute hurdle, with Blue & White and Labour both set to join Likud

April 6, 2020 19:19
Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, pictured here with Benjamin Netanyahu last month, could be heading for opposition

ByAnshel Pfeffer, bY Anshel Pfeffer

2 min read

Benjamin Netanyahu was on the brink of finally swearing in his new cabinet on the eve of Pesach, but disagreements on judicial appointments were proving to be a last-minute hurdle.

Despite the delay, Benny Gantz’s half of Blue & White and Amir Peretz’s sliver of what was once the Labour Party are resigned to joining the new government. Naftali Bennett’s Yamina, until now a member of the Netanyahu coalition, may find itself in opposition. 

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz, one-time rivals who are now about to be partners, held two lengthy meetings in the prime minister’s residence, one over the weekend and the second on Monday morning. They reached a series of breakthroughs despite being restricted from talking face-to-face due to Mr Netanyahu’s self-quarantine, who has been in contact with Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who has the coronavirus.

The two main sticking points were the future of the annexation of parts of the West Bank, as envisaged in US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, and the question of who controls appointments in the legal establishment.