Israel to swear in new parliament under coronavirus shadow

Israel was to swear in its newly elected parliament on Monday under stringent restrictions because of coronavirus outbreak in what was expected to be a surreal ceremony reflecting country's unprecedented dual crisis in politics and public health. Inste of typical festive garing of parliament's 120 members, new lawmakers will be staggered into plenum in 40 rounds of three each so as to abide by health ministry's guidelines of limiting public garings to 10 people at a time.

Israel's largely ceremonial president Reuven Rivlin will preside over unusual event after Israeli Knesset, or parliament, was thoroughly sprayed with disinfectant.

event, coming two weeks after national elections, will give country a new legislature. But Israel still seems a long way from establishing a stable government.

Rivlin on Monday formally designated opposition leer Benny Gantz task of forming a coalition after retired military chief secured a slim majority of recommendations from incoming lawmakers. But beyond a joint desire to oust longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz's bloc of supporters has very little in common. It is deeply divided along ideological lines and appears unlikely to band toger for an alternative government that could replace Netanyahu's.

Netanyahu's Likud emerged as largest party in March 2 election, Israel's third in under a year, but along with his smaller religious and nationalist allies only has support of 58 lawmakers — leaving his right-wing bloc three seats short of required majority in parliament. He also faces serious legal troubles as he prepares to go on trial to face corruption charges.

With country's continued delock likely, and prospect of yet ar election seeming preposterous under circumstances, Rivlin summoned both Netanyahu and Gantz late Sunday to an emergency meeting in hopes of cajoling m into a unity government. Both men have expressed openness to concept amid a national sense of emergency surrounding spre of new virus. But re is deep distrust between m after a nasty campaign and y differ on who should le such a government.

Netanyahu has been shepherding country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat, with some 250 people diagsed and number quickly rising. He's imposed a series of sweeping travel and quarantine measures that have thus far helped prevent any virus-related fatalities, but experts still predict many more difficult weeks ahe and prospect of a more far-reaching clampdown on daily life.

virus has spre to more than 100 countries, infected more than 170,000 people worldwide and killed more than 6,500. For most people, new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. vast majority of people recover from new virus.

Netanyahu's aggressive response, showcased in near-daily prime-time television dresses, seems to have boosted his standing. His criminal trial has been postponed because of restrictions on public garings and pandemic eruption has offered him an opportunity to flaunt his leership skills and project a narrative that his legal woes pale in comparison.

A poll published Sunday night on Channel 12 news showed 62% of public saying he was handling crisis in a responsible manner, with 70% supporting his decision-making. Direct Polls Ltd. survey polled 821 ult Israelis and h a margin of error of 4.1%.

Still, some of his measures have drawn stiff criticism from civil liberties groups, in particular his authorization of Shin Bet internal security ncy to use mobile-phone tracking techlogy to monitor movements of corovirus patients.

Opponents also bemoaned how his hand-picked interim justice minister swiftly declared a state of emergency in court system, forcing postponement of Netanyahu’s trial for more than two months.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. He is accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favors with powerful media moguls. long-ruling Israeli leer denies any wrongdoing and says he is victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.

Gantz ally and fellow former military chief Moshe Yaalon has compared Netanyahu's conduct to that of Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying it was “cynical exploitation of corona crisis for political needs of a man standing before trial."

Such protestations have swiftly drawn rebukes from Netanyahu's Likud party as petty politics at a time when prime minister is “managing a national and global crisis in a measured and responsible fashion.”