Israeli Knesset swears in new members three-by-three

Israel swore in its newly elected parliament on Monday under stringent restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ultra Orthodox Jews pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Picture: AP.

Israel swore in its newly elected parliament on Monday under stringent restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak, in a surreal ceremony reflecting the country’s unprecedented dual crisis in politics and public health.

Instead of the typical festive gathering of the Knesset’s 120, the new MPs took the oath of office in groups of three over 40 staggered rounds, in keeping with a Health Ministry ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin presided over the unusual event after the Knesset was thoroughly sprayed with disinfectant. The President, flanked by the Knesset Speaker and secretary, opened the first session of parliament before an empty chamber save for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz. They sat several rows apart and made little eye contact, outnumbered by the three trumpeters in the hall who rang in the first session of parliament.

Mr Rivlin called for unity and compromise from the two leaders, saying the Israeli people “are in need of rest, we are in need of healing” after three parliamentary elections in less than a year.

After Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz were sworn in, they were ushered out of the hall and the MPs were brought in three-by-three for brief swearing-in ceremonies. The event, coming two weeks after national elections, will give the country a new legislature. But Israel still seems a long way from establishing a stable government.

Mr Rivlin earlier formally designated Mr Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, the task of forming a coalition after the ­retired military chief secured a slim majority of recommendations from incoming MPs.

Mr Gantz promised to “do whatever it takes to form within as few days as possible a national, patriotic and broad government”.

But beyond a joint desire to oust the longtime Prime Minister, Mr Gantz’s bloc of supporters has little in common. It is deeply divided along ideological lines and appears unlikely to band together for an alternative government that could replace Mr Netanyahu, who faces serious legal troubles as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.

Blue and White submitted three bills to parliament on Monday that seek to oust Mr Netan­yahu from office. The first proposes a two-term limit to the premiership, the second bars prime ministers from serving while under indictment, and the third would prohibit giving the task of forming a government to an indicted politician. A similar bill has been submitted by the ­opposition Yisrael Beytenu party.

During the transition, Blue and White is expected to name one of its members as speaker of the parliament. But it remains unclear whether these bills will garner enough support to pass.

Mr Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party in the March 2 election.

But along with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, he only has the support of 58 MPs — leaving his bloc three seats short of the required majority in the Knesset. With the country’s continued deadlock likely, and the prospect of yet another election seeming preposterous, Mr Rivlin summoned Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz late on Sunday to an emergency meeting in the hope of cajoling them into a unity government. Mr Gatnz receiving the mandate from Mr Rivlin could strengthen his position in unity talks with Mr Netanyahu.

Both men have expressed openness to the concept amid a national sense of emergency surrounding the spread of the new virus. But there is deep distrust ­between them after a nasty campaign and they differ on who should lead such a government. Mr Netanyahu has been shepherding the country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat, with 250 people diagnosed and the number quickly rising. He’s imposed a series of sweeping travel and quarantine measures that have thus far helped prevent any virus-related fatalities.

Mr Netanyahu’s aggressive response seems to have boosted his public standing. His criminal trial has been postponed from this week until May because of the restrictions on public gatherings.

A poll published on Sunday night on Channel 12 news showed 62 per cent of the public saying he was handling the crisis in a responsible manner, with 70 per cent supporting his decisions.

AP