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| - Israel has staged four elections in two years, as political parties have struggled to form or maintain coalition governments. Benjamin Netanyahu -- Israel's longest serving prime minister -- is seeking to hold onto power in the face of an opposition bid to form a coalition government. In polls on April 9, 2019, Netanyahu hopes to prevail again, despite being dogged by corruption allegations. Netanyahu's Likud and the Blue and White alliance of ex-military chief and centrist challenger Benny Gantz finish neck-and-neck with 35 seats each. Parliament chooses Netanyahu, backed by smaller right-wing parties, to try to form a majority government. But after weeks of political bargaining, he is unable to command a majority in the 120-seat parliament. The deadline expires and the Knesset agrees to hold a new election. The next election on September 17 is another tight race, with Gantz's party at 33 seats against Likud's 32. Netanyahu, charged with forming a government, proposes a unity government, but Gantz refuses to join, citing his rival's potential indictment on corruption charges. In October, Netanyahu announces he has failed and Rivlin hands the task to Gantz, who also throws in the towel a month later. On November 21, the attorney general charges Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. It is the first time a sitting prime minister faces trial in Israel. Netanyahu rejects the charges, saying they are an attempt to remove him. On December 11, as the deadline passes for parliament to find a head of government, lawmakers call a new election for March 2, 2020. This time around Likud wins the most seats -- 36 against 33 for Gantz's party. On March 16, Gantz, with initial pledges of support from 61 lawmakers, is nominated to try to form a new government, but fails. On April 20, with Israel on lockdown against the coronavirus and facing economic crisis, Netanyahu and Gantz announce a deal to form an emergency unity government. The three-year agreement will allow Netanyahu to stay in office for 18 months. Gantz will then take over as premier for another 18 months, before Israel heads to an election. On May 6, Israel's Supreme Court approves the coalition deal and lawmakers endorse the pact the next day. But after parliament fails to adopt a budget, parliament is dissolved on December 23, and new elections called for March 2021. Israelis return to the polls for a fourth election on March 23. Likud comes out on top with 30 seats. Within the anti-Netanyahu bloc, the centrist Yesh Atid party, led by former television host Yair Lapid, wins the most seats with 17. On April 6, Israel's president nominates Netanyahu to try to form a government, but voices doubt that any lawmaker will be able to forge a parliamentary majority. Twelve days later, opposition leader Lapid calls for a unity government of the right, centre and left to oust Netanyahu. On April 20, Netanyahu calls for direct polls to choose Israel's next prime minister. On May 5, Lapid is tasked with forming a government, after Netanyahu fails to cobble together a coalition. On May 30, Israeli nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett says he will join a potential coalition government that could end Netanyahu's rule. bur/pvh/lg
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