The contacts for the establishment of a national emergency government in the shadow of the Corona crisis herald the end of the political impasse. Gantz and Ashkenazi's decision to break the alliance with Torch and Ya'alon and to join Netanyahu ends the plunder that accompanied us for more than a year. This is a state move that is widely supported by the public, and also among blue and white supporters who have fallen apart in its shadow. In this, Benny Gantz returned to the political center. He abandoned the radical wing that called for dismantling the Zionist consensus in the establishment of a narrow government with the support of the left, the center, Lieberman and the Arabs. He also marked himself as heir to the prime minister, creating a real outline for his rise to state leadership.

Gantz's agreement to a compromise rather than a decision, under very generous terms by the Likud and its right-wing partners, is called the end of Netanyahu's hegemony. Although those who wanted Netanyahu's immediate impeachment were not satisfied, there is also much public skepticism about Netanyahu's willingness to step down from the throne. But if the plans are fulfilled, and the chance is high, in a year and a half the Gantz will become the Israeli prime minister. This will end Netanyahu's 12 consecutive years of rule.

This is a considerable achievement for Gantz, a relatively new politician, and sober and pragmatic. Gantz will receive a speedy training period as a Knesset Member, Minister and Acting Prime Minister. Despite three turbulent election campaigns we went through, only a year and a half ago, Gantz held talks on joining Likud. We seem to have returned to the same point. Gantz will gain first-rate diplomatic experience and make connections that will underpin his rise to the country's top job, under much more favorable conditions than he currently comes from outside. One and a half years of incubation as the heir.

As one of the two emergency government leaders, Gantz will gain exposure and prestige thanks to his participation in state administration during the Corona crisis. The public will get used to seeing him in a state role in politics as well. In the background, Netanyahu will mourn the impending trial, and if Gantz continues to proceed with caution as he seems to have done so far, he can position himself as a good alternative to Netanyahu from the government. We have a scenario for orderly transfer of power in the foreseeable future. In doing so, Gantz himself marked Netanyahu's intended successor. The one who is most worried about this is Gideon Sa'ar, who so far seems to have inherited Netanyahu from the Likud, and now his boat is rocking.

Gantz's release from the embrace of the joint list, and from the alliance with the radical wing on the left, leaves his former colleagues in blue and white alone on the slippery slope, with the center's position slipping away from them, as happened to the Labor Party. Gantz jumped off the boat in time and could now position himself comfortably in the "center", with Torch and Ya'alon pushed "left". This move will allow him to be a significant alternative to Netanyahu's political center, to which Gantz has been very successful in the past year and a half. From there, he could threaten his rule even beyond the rotation agreement, and possibly succeed at the point where his predecessors failed.

Dr. Rona Yona is a historian and lecturer at Tel Aviv University and the Oranim College