Netanyahu: I’m confident annexation will happen in a couple of months
Israel will be able to apply its laws to the West Bank in a couple of months following a pledge from US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, at an online conference of pro-Israel Christians marking the centennial of the San Remo Conference that recognized Jews’ right to self-determination in their […]
Ins and outs of Israel’s unprecedented national emergency unity government
Israel’s 15-month political stalemate, which led to three election cycles within the course of a year, has come to a close with the signing of a unity government deal between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the Likud Party, and Blue and White Party head Benny Gantz. The two sides are calling it a […]
The deal is done: Netanyahu, Gantz ink coalition pact
Israel will soon have a new coalition government after an agreement was signed on Monday evening between Likud and Blue and White, putting an end to a 17-month political stalemate that resulted in three elections. As part of the deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served as caretaker prime minister since December 2018, will […]
Rivlin gives Knesset 21 days to agree on the PM it wants, or go to new election
President Reuven Rivlin informed Knesset Speaker Benny Gantz on Thursday morning that his mandate to form a government had ended, after the Blue and White party leader failed to present a government to the parliament by Wednesday night’s midnight deadline. Rivlin announced earlier this week he would not hand the mandate to Gantz’s rival, Likud […]
Likud, Blue and White to “continue talks” – statement
Talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz’s Blue and White will continue, the parties said in a joint statement Friday morning, Ynet reported. According to the statement, published following a Thursday meeting between the parties’ representatives, negotiations will continue on Friday in order to reach a national […]
Israeli opposition leader passes deadline to form government
Israel’s opposition leader, Benny Gantz, has failed to form a coalition government after talks with Benjamin Netanyahu stalled, pushing the country further towards an unprecedented fourth round of elections. Gantz had until midnight on Wednesday to build a majority government and now loses the mandate given to him by the president, Reuven Rivlin. His failure […]
Netanyahu announces fresh nationwide lockdown for end of Passover
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced a nationwide lockdown for the end of the Passover holiday and the Mimouna festival, while warning Israelis they will continue to face some restrictions on their lives until a vaccine for the coronavirus is developed. From Tuesday at 5 p.m. until Thursday at 5 a.m., Netanyahu said Israelis […]
Rivlin gives PM, Gantz 48 more hours to seal deal as sides cite ‘major progress’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz appeared to be on the cusp of reaching a coalition deal overnight Monday-Tuesday, as the president approved a last-minute joint request by the two to extend Gantz’s mandate to form a government by 48 hours, with the sides citing “major progress” in talks. The […]
Netanyahu, Gantz resume talks in effort to finalize deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and their negotiators will reconvene on Wednesday evening after failing to finalize an agreement in six hours of negotiations at the Prime Minister’s Residence on Tuesday. Both sides reported making significant progress toward building a national emergency government in a meeting on late Monday […]
Gridlocked Israel nears 4th consecutive election
Israel’s president on Sunday turned down a request from Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz for a two-week extension to form a new coalition government. The announcement by President Reuven Rivlin means that Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a midnight deadline on Monday night to reach a power-sharing deal. If they fail, […]