This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
On April 20, 2020, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former rival Benny Gantz reached a historic deal to form an emergency unity government, ending the country's worst political crisis.
According to a joint statement, Netanyahu and Gantz signed an agreement for the establishment of a national emergency government, with Netanyahu serving as the first prime minister.
The deal comes after three inconclusive elections over the past year, in which neither Netanyahu nor Gantz secured enough support to form a viable governing coalition.
As the COVID-19 epidemic intensified, calls mounted for Netanyahu and Gantz to unite and offer the country a rare period of political calm as it battles an unprecedented health crisis.
After being mandated to form a government by President Reuven Rivlin, Gantz was elected speaker of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in a surprise move.
He pledged to use that position to seek a deal with Netanyahu, saying the pandemic and grinding political deadlock demanded tough compromises.
The deal averted a potential fourth election in 18 months and has been widely seen as a compromise between the two leaders.
