Tel Aviv (dpa) - After three inconclusive elections, a year and a half of political paralysis, and a last-minute three-day delay, Israel's new government is scheduled to be sworn in on Sunday.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history - who faces a trial on corruption charges starting next week - will share the premiership on a rotating basis with centrist rival Benny Gantz.

Netanyahu, of the centre-right Likud party, will be the first to head the new government for a period of 18 months. Then former military chief Gantz, of the Blue and White Alliance, is supposed to take the reins in November 2021.

While Netanyahu is premier, Gantz is to serve as "alternate prime minister" - a new, specially created title - and defence minister.

The swearing-in, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed at the last minute - just as the Knesset session for the ceremony had been scheduled to start - to give Netanyahu more time to distribute portfolios amongst members of his own Likud party.

The leadership agreement saw Gantz break his long-time vow never to serve with the indicted Netanyahu. He said Israel needed a stable government to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

In what is being called a "national emergency government," the first six months are to focus on the outbreak and its economic fallout.

Israel saw an unprecedented three elections in a year, the last on March 2, with Netanyahu fighting for his political survival as post-election talks faltered and criminal proceedings against him pressed ahead.

His trial on charges of corruption is set to begin on Sunday, May 24. He has denied any wrongdoing.