Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Government

The President of Israel recently issued a mandate for Benjamin Netanyahu to try and form the Government. Benjamin has been given twenty-eight days to form the government.

Israel Election

In March 2021, Israel conducted elections. This is the fourth election in two years. However, the election results ended with no majority. Neither Netanyahu nor his opponent Benny Gantz secured the required majority to form the government. However, in consultations with the political parties, Netanyahu received more endorsements and thus the president has invited him to try and form the government.

What is the issue?

The thirty fifth Government of Israel was sworn in on May 17, 2020. It was originally to be established following the April 2019 election. However, Knesset dissolved by itself as none could form a majority Government. Knesset is the Unicameral National Legislature of Israel. Following this a third election was held in 2020. After this election, Netanyahu and Gantz finally reached on an agreement to form a national unity Government. A National Unity Government is a coalition government that consists of all parties in the legislature. However, this government was dissolved in December 2020. Thus, Israel went for elections again in 2021.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu served as the Prime Minister of Israel between 1996 and 1999. Also, he served as the Prime Minister since 2009. During his fourth term as Prime Minister of Israel, that is, in 2017, the police investigation on Netanyahu began. He was investigated in two cases namely Case 1000 and Case 2000. He was charged of crimes involving fraud, bribes and breach of trust in both the cases. In 2018, he was charged of corruption. Some critics consider this as the major cause of 2019-2021 Israeli political crisis that began after April 2019 elections.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2021