The Likud and Blue and White parties announced several changes May 5 to the unity-government agreement they signed last month.
The two parties told the High Court they had agreed to cut the time period of a freeze on appointing key officials from six months to 100 days. Also, the revised agreement would give preference to bills related to the coronavirus, but not prevent other legislation from being presented to the Knesset. A third change was for Blue and White to forgo its demand that its (future) ministers who quit the Knesset be replaced only by Blue and White candidates in the last election. Blue and White wanted to avoid a situation where empty Knesset spots would automatically be filled by the next candidate in line, according to the candidate lists presented on election day. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s former allies — the Yesh Atid and Telem factions — quit Blue and White when Gantz partnered with Netanyahu. They are now in the opposition, but according to parliamentary regulations could benefit from vacated seats.
