Israel News for 10-04-2019
News Update
PM Netanyahu and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman met yesterday for less than hour without reaching any agreement for Lieberman to join the PM’s coalition and give him the majority needed to form a government. Lieberman insists that the only option he will support is a national unity government between Likud and Blue and White.
In a move that might help make a unity government a reality, Blue and White co-leader Yair Lapid said that he will give up his right to serve as prime minister in a rotation with Benny Gantz, the party leader, as was originally agreed by them. This means that Gantz and Netanyahu could both potentially serve as prime minister in a rotation if a unity government is formed. A three way rotation (including Lapid) would have been out of the question.
Lapid also called on PM Netanyahu to step aside due to his criminal investigations and allow a new leader of Likud to emerge. Instead, Netanyahu is pressing for a new election within Likud, to solidify his leadership position in the party. But his chief opponent, Gideon Saar is apparently ready to take on the challenge and give the PM a run for his money, although it’s extremely that the party will drop their long time champion.
With the prospect of a new election hovering over them, the members of the new 22nd Knesset were sworn in yesterday. The 13 new Arab Knesset members chose to boycott the ceremony in protest of the rising violence and loss of live in Arab communities.
On the business front, content recommendation giants Outbrain and Taboola, both Israeli companies, are merging. Each company is valued at over a billion dollars on its own.
Special Note
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