If the emergency unity government is indeed sworn in, Israel will have been spared its fourth elections in 16 months. But what does the coalition stand for? And will it hold?

By DAVID HOROVITZ, TOI 

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign their unity government agreement on April 20, 2020. (GPO)

Week after week amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for an emergency unity government to help battle the crisis. On March 26, his three-time election rival Benny Gantz heeded the call, and on Monday night, after protracted on-and-off negotiations, the two men signed a 41-clause coalition deal. If their government is approved by the Knesset in the coming days, as anticipated, Israel’s 16-month political deadlock will have finally been broken, and the country will have been spared a fourth round of elections amid the pandemic.

Snap opinion polls suggest most of the Israeli public is pleased by the prospect of finally having a fully functioning government, but does not widely believe Likud leader Netanyahu will actually go through with a central feature of the deal — handing over the prime minister’s post to Gantz after 18 months of the coalition’s scheduled three-year lifespan. There is also mounting criticism of the size of the incoming government — projected to number 32 ministers at first, and grow to 36, with up to 16 deputy ministers, which would make it the largest in Israel’s history.
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By Andrea Widburg, American Thinker

Since Wuhan virus became a “thing” in America, the media have abandoned any pretense that they are honest news brokers. At CNN, they’ve made themselves into news. During the press conferences, reporters don’t ask Trump questions aimed at eliciting information for the American people. Instead, they ask only questions they hope will harm him. And because Trump triumphs, they want to censor the press conferences.

The media has therefore turned most of the current narrative into a battle between pro- and anti-Trump people on the question of whether Trump responded in a timely and appropriate fashion as news about the Wuhan virus unfolded. Lost in all of this is the fact that Trump warned America a long time ago that China was a dangerous actor.
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By Barry Shaw, Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.

Miles Kwok may or may not be a dishonest man. Even his name is a pseudonym. His real name is Gui Wengui He is a Chinese billionaire on the run from the long arm of the goons of the Communist Party of China. His assets in China have been frozen and he is seeking political asylum in America.

His problem is not only his money. His problem is he knows the nasty secrets of the men at the top of the People’s Republic of China.

That makes him a man marked for death.

He lives under tight security in an exclusive address in New York when he is not flitting between Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere.
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Dr. Aaron Lerner 21 April 2020

28. The Prime Minister and the Alternate Prime Minister will work together and coordinated to promote peace agreements with all of our neighbors and promote regional cooperation in a variety of economic areas and the matter of the corona crisis.

With regard to everything to President Trump’s declaration, the Prime Minister and Alternate Prime Minister will act in full agreement with the United States, including with regard to the maps with the US and international dialogue on the issue, all while pursuing the security and strategic interests of the State of Israel and the need for maintaining regional stability, maintaining  the peace agreements and striving for future peace agreements.

29. Notwithstanding Article 3, Article 20, Article 21 and Article 28 above, and after a discussion and consultation are held between the Prime Minister and the Alternate Prime Minister on the principles set out above, the Prime Minister will be able to bring the agreement reached with the United States on the application of sovereignty as of 1.7.2020 for discussion in the cabinet and government and for approval by the government and/or the Knesset.
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Barteloma interviews Pompeo.

This represents a huge opportunity for Israel

By Ted Belman

Stand for America published this appeal by Nikki Haley;

“This was the wake-up call we needed. American dependency on China MUST end.

They lied to all of us in the midst of a global public health crisis that has killed THOUSANDS and devastated MILLIONS.

Now, Americans must stop fooling ourselves about China and the threat they pose to our safety and security.

That starts with American independence.

We’ve relied on China for far too long and now as coronavirus wreaks havoc on our nation, America must face a serious reality:
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US senators push for cooperation with Israel on COVID-19 research

The proposed budget would cover cooperation on technology such as artificial intelligence, sensors, monitoring devices and more.

By OMRI NAHMIAS, JPOST   

A medical technologist tests a respiratory panel at Northwell Health Labs, where the same test will be used on the COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, after being authorized to begin semi-automated testing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Lake Success, New York, U.S (photo credit: REUTERS/SHANNON STAPLETON)

WASHINGTON – Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) said on Thursday that they would promote a bipartisan bill to create a partnership between Israel and the US to treat the novel COVID-19.

The two released a joint statement announcing their intention to push for a $12 million appropriation in the next relief bill, “to enhance partnerships between companies in the United States and Israel to develop innovative medical projects aimed at detecting, treating, and curing COVID-19.”
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By Raymond Ibrahim, AMERICAN THINKER

Not only is Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari behind what several international observers are calling a “genocide” of Christians in his nation, but Barack Hussein Obama played a major role in the Muslim president’s rise to power. These two interconnected accusations are increasingly being made — not by “xenophobic” Americans but Nigerians themselves, including several leaders and officials.

Most recently, Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s former minister of culture and tourism, wrote in a Facebook post:

What Obama, John Kerry and Hilary Clinton did to Nigeria by funding and supporting Buhari in the 2015 presidential election and helping Boko Haram in 2014/2015 was sheer wickedness and the blood of all those killed by the Buhari administration, his Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram over the last 5 years are on their hands.

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By Eileen F. Toplansky, AMERICAN THINKER

Generally, when a buyer is defrauded of services, the demand for the goods diminishes. As more emerges of what colleges and universities across this country are not doing, the demand will dry up unless there are drastic changes.

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has published a report titled “What Will They Learn?”  It is a survey of core requirements at our nation’s colleges and universities and one does not need a Ph.D. to comprehend the paucity of education now apparent in far too many places. In fact, “for over a decade, ACTA has expressed concern that rising employer dissatisfaction with college graduates, as well as the decline in civic competency and informed discourse in the public square, are attributable to an overall deterioration of core curricula in the liberal arts. That is why ACTA evaluates over 1,100 general education programs every year in light of standards and criteria established by the committees of scholars… convened.”
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The deep distrust between Netanyahu and Gantz shapes every facet of the new coalition deal, transforming the nascent government into a two-headed hydra of contradictory impulses

By Haviv Rettig Gur, TOI

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz in the Knesset, November 10, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israel’s 35th Government began to come into focus on Monday with the signing of a coalition agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz.

And what a strange government it is.

In that it avoids a fourth consecutive election in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, it may be a laudable achievement. But scratch the surface of the 14-page agreement and one finds that the “unity” government being celebrated by the two leaders is a bloated, bifurcated regime shaped by the deep distrust upon which it was built.
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MEMRI

Introduction

The new Iraqi designated PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (Source: Twitter.com/malimusawi)

On April 10, 2020, Tehran welcomed the designation of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Iraq’s pro-U.S. Chief of Intelligence as its new Prime Minister, a decision reached with consensus among Iraq’s political groups. Abbas Mousavi, spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said in a statement that Al-Kadhimi’s designation is “the right step in the right direction,” wishing him success in his mission to meet the demands of the Iraqi people.[1]

Iraj Masjedi, the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, similarly stated that “Iran supports the appointment of Mustafa al-Kadhimi as the new Prime Minister of Iraq” and that the country “views him positively.”[2] Commenting on the news, Iran’s state-run news agency, Tasnim, anticipated that Al-Kadhimi will succeed in forming a cabinet within the mandated 30 days.[3]

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The final agreement included most of Netanyahu’s demands, including on the composition of the panel that appoints judges 

PM and Blue and White chief meet to sign deal, which will reportedly give the premier most of his demands; two men expected to give statements later in the evening

T. Belman. I’m satisfied. The right gets annexation but gives up Justice and Defense. Foreign Affairs goes with the premiership.  What this article doesn’t tell us is the deal re appointment of Judges.

Government to finally form after Netanyahu, Gantz sign deal to form coalition.

Arutz Sheva Staff , 20/04/20 19:19

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz signed an agreement to form a unity government Monday evening, ending the political deadlock which prevented the formation of a coalition and led to three elections in less than a year.

“An agreement for the establishment of a national emergency government is now being signed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Blue and White (alliance) chairman… Benny Gantz,” the parties said in a joint statement.

Commentator Amit Segal reported on Channel 12 News that the Likud and the right-wing parties will hold the position of the Knesset Speaker, chair the Finance, Economy and Coronavirus committees.
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By Jim Hoft, GATEWAY PUNDIT

Stanford University researcher Dr. John Ioannidis presented his findings from a recent coronavirus study in Santa Clara, California.

The research project looked at 3,300 people in Santa Clara County in California. The Stanford study revealed that 2.5% to 4.2% of people tested for COVID-19 were positive for antibodies.

The data indicates that there are between 50 to 80-fold more infections in the general population than confirmed cases. Read more…

Blue and White sources say Gantz will make good on his threat to convene Knesset vote Monday, but former ally Ya’alon says it’s just a pressure tactic in negotiations with Likud

TOI STAFF  Today, 11:48 am

Election posters put up by Blue and White show candidates Benny Gantz (left) and Benjamin Netanyahu on February 18, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz met briefly Monday morning but failed to bridge their gaps as talks on the formation of a unity government appeared to blow up.

Gantz had reportedly insisted in recent days that a deal was imminent, but looked set Monday to advance legislation that would disqualify his rival from continuing to serve as prime minister, essentially threatening to sink prospects of an agreement for good.

Despite reports indicating that talks had fallen apart, the Likud party put out a statement late Monday morning saying that negotiations were continuing.
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By Mario Alexis Portella, AT

The Washington Post report last week saying that U.S. Embassy officials in China warned the State Department in Washington as early as January 19, 2018, about inadequate safety at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) lab, in addition to scientists conducting risky research on coronavirus from bats.

The U.S. embassy in Beijing had sent U.S. science diplomats to the WIV lab, which had distinguished itself in 2015 as “China’s first laboratory to achieve the highest level of international bio-research safety (known as BSL-4). WIV issued a news release in English about the last of these visits, which occurred on March 27, 2018… Last week, WIV erased that statement from its website, though it remains archived on the Internet.” The U.S. officials on the trip were so concerned by what they saw that they sent two diplomatic cables labelled “Sensitive But Unclassified” back to Washington.
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