The unanimous decision, released just before midnight, ended a 17-month political stalemate and prevented the country from plunging into a fourth consecutive election in just over a year. Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, said they expected their coalition to be sworn into office next week. After battling to three inconclusive elections over the past year, Netanyahu and Gantz, a former military chief, announced their emergency government last month, saying they would put aside their rivalry to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis.
Critics and good-government groups said the deal was illegal and challenged it in the High Court. They argued that the law should bar an official charged with serious crimes from continuing as prime minister. They also objected to the newly created position of "alternate prime minister," a post that could allow Netanyahu to remain in office throughout his corruption trial and a potential appeals process.
Over two days this week, the court looked at two questions: whether an indicted politician can be given authority to form a new government, and whether the power-sharing deal – which includes new legislation – was legal. In its decision, the 11-judge panel expressed misgivings about the coalition agreement and Netanyahu's criminal indictment but found no grounds to prevent the government from taking office. -Full Report
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