Israel’s prime minister and a leading opposition figure have agreed to form a temporary emergency government.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have also agreed to form a “war management cabinet” to deal with the conflict.
The announcement comes in the wake of savage attacks by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip.
It sees both men put aside a bitter political rivalry that had escalated into widespread protests.
Alongside Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz, the centrist National Unity Party leader and a former defence minister, the new temporary cabinet would also include Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The country’s main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has not joined the alliance. However, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz said in a joint statement that a seat would be reserved for him in the war cabinet.
“During the war period, no bills or government decisions will be promoted that do not concern the conduct of the war,” said the statement.
“All senior appointments will be automatically extended during the war period.”
