Israel's Defence Minister and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz, right, with Justice Minister and New Hope leader Gideon Saar. Photo: AFP
Israel's Defence Minister and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz, right, with Justice Minister and New Hope leader Gideon Saar. Photo: AFP
Israel's Defence Minister and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz, right, with Justice Minister and New Hope leader Gideon Saar. Photo: AFP
Israel's Defence Minister and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz, right, with Justice Minister and New Hope leader Gideon Saar. Photo: AFP

Israeli ministers Benny Gantz and Gideon Saar agree to merge parties


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The leaders of two parties in Israel’s departing government coalition have announced they will run as political partners in the coming parliamentary elections.

Sunday's announcement by Gideon Saar and Benny Gantz could lead to the latter becoming the head of one of the biggest groups in the 120-seat parliament.

It was the first shift in Israel’s political landscape since the Knesset voted to dissolve itself on June 30 and send the electorate back to the polls.

Israel will hold its fifth elections in under four years in November after the government led by prime minister Naftali Bennett collapsed last month.

Previous elections were largely referendums on long-time leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s fitness to serve as prime minister while under indictment for corruption.

Mr Netanyahu was investigated in 2016 for accepting bribes, fraud and breach of public trust, but was not formally indicted until 2019. His trial is ongoing.

Mr Gantz, a former army chief of staff, heads the centrist Blue and White party and serves as Israel’s defence minister. After speculation that he might join a coalition with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Gantz told journalists at a press conference last month he "would do everything to prevent the formation of an alternative government in this Knesset under Netanyahu."

Mr Saar is a former member of the once-dominant Likud party who broke ranks and formed his New Hope party. He is currently justice minister.

“Netanyahu, unfortunately, prioritises his personal interests over those of the country. That’s already caused terrible damage to the state of Israel, to the economy, to our social fabric,” Mr Saar told The Times of Israel, when he formed the New Hope party.

Both were vital members of the alliance of eight diverse parties that joined forces last year to oust Mr Netanyahu after 12 years in office.

Mr Gantz said the two parties were joining forces to provide voters with a strong centrist option to help end the country’s protracted political crisis.

“Today, we are laying the foundation of the next government,” he said.

Mr Saar said the aim was to break the political deadlock and form “a broad national unity government that is not dependent upon the fringes.” He said Mr Gantz was best suited to lead as prime minister.

India Test squad

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Sole survivors
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  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
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Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

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Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany

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US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol. 

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

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Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

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Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Updated: July 11, 2022, 2:30 PM`