In a week which saw Israel finally end a 16-month wait for a new government, host Simon Spungin is joined by Anshel Pfeffer and Haaretz’s intelligence analyst, Yossi Melman.

In part one, we discuss the deal between Benjamin Netanyahu and Kahol Lavan leader Benny Gantz, which will see each of them serving as prime minister for 18 months. Why did it take so long to reach an agreement? What will be on the new government’s agenda? Will Bibi abide by the terms when he has to step down? And what kind of opposition will it face from within the Knesset?

Corona keeps Bibi in power and unmasks the Mossad Credit: Haaretz

In part two, Yossi Melman explains how Israel’s vaunted spy agency, the Mossad, went from covert ops to COVID ops and whether Netanyahu and spook-in-chief Yossi Cohen are using the Mossad’s fabled history as a smokescreen. We also ask whether the role that Israel’s national security agencies play in the future will be expanded to include threats other than military.

Recommended related reading:

The Mossad Is Flaunting Too Much During the Coronavirus Crisis / Yossi Melman

Netanyahu Hired Gantz as His Personal Bodyguard for the Next Three Years / Anshel Pfeffer

Bribery Suspect Netanyahu and Vote Thief Gantz Form an Alliance of Scoundrels / Aluf Benn