TO CAP(2) ETC.

　イスラエル国会（定数１２０）は、最大野党の中道イエシュ・アティドなど野党８党が樹立で合意した連立政権を承認し、新政権が発足した。2009年以来、12年ぶりの政権交代で、通算15年首相を務めたベンヤミン・ネタニヤフ首相は退陣する。

　本日のGetUpEnglishはこのニュースを読んでみよう。

　https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-062e6baf13e774f30c4e697cb9f2d1f1

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents announced Wednesday that they have reached a deal to form a new governing coalition, paving the way for the ouster of the longtime Israeli leader.

The dramatic announcement by opposition leader Yair Lapid and his main coalition partner, Naftali Bennett, came shortly before a midnight deadline and prevented what could have been Israel’s fifth consecutive election in just over two years.

　what could have been Israel’s fifth consecutive election in just over two yearsは「2年間で連続5度目の選曲になったかもしれない事態」

“This government will work for all the citizens of Israel, those that voted for it and those that didn’t. It will do everything to unite Israeli society,” Lapid said.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the Knesset, or parliament, in a vote that is expected to take place early next week. If it goes through, Lapid and a diverse array of partners that span the Israeli political spectrum will end Netanyahu’s record-setting but divisive 12-year rule.

The coalition agreement capped a March 23 election in which neither Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies nor their opponents won a majority in the legislature. It was Israel’s fourth national ballot in two years.

　動詞capは2011-05-03のGetUpEnglishで紹介したが、

　https://blog.goo.ne.jp/getupenglish/e/a42f1e23596d38ece0c32030bd7db0fd

　ここでは、cap(ped)は「～に終止符を打つ」の意味で使われている。次の『コンパスローズ英和辞典』の定義が参考になる。

　[主に新聞で] 〈一連の出来事〉の最後を飾る, 〈…〉を締めくくる (with) 《★悪い事にも言う》

　そう、悪いことも使われるのだ。