Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally received the support of a majority of lawmakers to lead a new government on Thursday, paving the way for a controversial power-sharing deal with rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz.
The Likud and Blue and White parties issued a statement saying they had given President Reuven Rivlin the signatures of 72 Parliament members recommending Mr. Netanyahu as Prime Minister. Once approved by the President, Mr. Netanyahu will have two weeks to form a government.
Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, had passed legislation earlier in the day approving a new coalition government framework for Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz to share the premiership and end a year-long political deadlock.
The legislation, which passed easily in a 72-36 vote, comes a day after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that it would not intervene in the new arrangement or prevent Mr. Netanyahu from leading the government despite a corruption indictment against him.
The decision essentially ended the country’s prolonged political stalemate and prevented Israel from being plunged into a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
After battling three inconclusive elections over the past year and with polls predicting a continued stalemate, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz, a former military chief, announced last month they would be joining forces to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis.
Critics had challenged the deal in the Supreme Court. They argued that the law should bar an official charged with serious crimes from continuing as Prime Minister. They also objected to the newly created position of “alternate prime minister,” a post that could allow Mr. Netanyahu to remain in office throughout his corruption trial and a potential appeals process.
The new position will enjoy all the trappings of the Prime Minister, including an official residence and, key for Mr. Netanyahu, an exemption from a law that requires public officials who are not Prime Minister to resign if charged with a crime.
Over two days of deliberations this week, the court considered the arguments before ruling there were no legal grounds to prevent the government from taking office.
Mr. Netanyahu has been indicted with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving trading favors with wealthy media moguls. His trial is set to start later this month.
Mr. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, and since his indictment last fall, he has repeatedly lashed out at the country’s legal system. He and his political allies have taken special aim at the high court, accusing it of overreach and political interference.
Mr. Gantz, who is to serve as defense minister during the government’s first 18 months before taking over from Mr. Netanyahu as premier, insists his presence will temper the assault on the legal establishment and install a sense of decorum to counter the divisiveness that had characterized Mr. Netanyahu’s successive caretaker governments.
