With the High Court greenlighting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government, representatives of the Likud and Blue and White parties submitted the signatures of 72 legislators endorsing Netanyahu for the task the afternoon of May 7. The list of signatures was given to President Reuven Rivlin only hours before the midnight deadline for the Knesset to propose its own candidate. Three hours after receiving the signatures, the president tasked Netanyahu with the mission.

Earlier in the day, the Knesset adopted amendments to two basic laws, enabling the two parties to go ahead with the April 20 unity deal signed by Netanyahu and Blue and White’s Benny Gantz. These amendments are designed to guarantee a rotation between Netanyahu and Gantz 18 months from now, and for the establishment of the largest-ever government in the history of the country.

Netanyahu and Ganzt plan for the new government to be sworn in May 13. Gantz is expected to serve as defense minister.

Knesset members of the Likud, Blue and White, Derech Eretz faction, Gesher faction, the two ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and Yahadut HaTorah, as well as two out of three Labor members made up the 72 signatories. The six members of pro-settler Yamina party did not sign the endorsement, and did not show up at the Knesset plenum either.