Jerusalem: Israel’s largely ceremonial president lashed out Thursday at squabbling members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called unity government, beseeching them to quit bickering during a time of national emergency and stop floating the prospect of yet another terrible election campaign.
Reuven Rivlin’s tweet comes amid a wave of angry protests against Netanyahu for his perceived mismanagement of the country’s deepening public health and economic crisis. After initially bringing the coronavirus under control, Israel is now suffering a peak of some 2,000 new cases a day while unemployment has soared above 20 per cent.
The government, established in May after three costly, divisive and ultimately inconclusive elections, was formed with the specific goal of countering the crisis.
Yet, it has been mostly characterized by internal fighting, contradictory policies and questionable legislation in the Knesset, or parliament all under the shadow of Netanyahu’s own corruption trial.
Rivlin appeal came a day after parliament passed a controversial bill to grant the government sweeping authority to bypass the legislature in enacting measures to combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus. (AP)