Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

For many, life has slowed down recently, not for scientists. Thousands of studies have

already been published on the coronavirus and its effects. Some of the old ways of disseminating

research are being completely upended and that is a good thing.

And in many American states it's become illegal for potential employers to ask about past

salaries. That simple change helps bring the chronically underpaid up to a fairer wage

and not coincidentally goes a long way to closing the gender pay gap.

First up though.

For more than a year, Israel seemed to be stuck in a loop.

Election. After election. After election. As both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then head of the opposition,

Benny Gantz repeatedly failed to form a coalition. But the political deadlock is over.

Tonight the pair will inaugurate a new unity government. Mr. Netanyahu will be Prime Minister for 18 months

before handing over to Mr. Gantz. The swearing in was delayed by a day. After America's Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

broke a travel hiatus to fly to Jerusalem and meet with both leaders. There he discussed joint efforts to counter Iran's influence in the region.

The campaign that we have been part of to reduce the resources that the IOTO has to inflict harm here in Israel and all across the world has born fruit.

It has been successful and we're going to stay at it. There's still work to do.

What wasn't publicly addressed were Israel's plans for the West Bank. Mr. Netanyahu campaigned on promises to annex parts of the occupied territories.

That's just one point of contention between his Lecude party and Mr. Gantz's blue and white coalition as the long awaited government gets down to work.

Two political rivals who have been swearing in their campaigns not to trust each other, not to allow each other to be Prime Minister are now basically going to guarantee each other as Prime Minister over the next three or four years.

Ansel Feffer is our Israel correspondent reporting from Jerusalem.

Benny Gantz and the parties which supported him and are entering this government will receive an equal number of ministers in cabinet to the ministers of Lecude and the other parties which support Netanyahu.

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