Finally, Israelis Won't Have to Vote Again

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival signed an agreement Monday to form an "emergency” government, their parties announced in a joint statement. The deal between Netanyahu’s Likud Party and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year, the AP reports. After March 2 elections ended in a stalemate, the two leaders agreed late last month to try to form an “emergency” unity Cabinet to cope with the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. The deal follows week of negotiations. Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately announced. But Israeli media said it called for a three-year period with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half and Gantz taking the job for the second half. (More Israel stories.)