Former Israeli army chief Gabi Ashkenazi will be nominated as Israels next foreign minister, his Blue and White alliance has said. Ashkenazi held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem ahead of his "appointment as minister of foreign affairs this coming Thursday," said Blue and White, which is led by the incoming alternate prime minister, Benny Gantz. A unity government agreed between Gantz and veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to be sworn in on Thursday evening, ending more than a year of political deadlock. Foreign affairs was a key profile secured by Blue and White in coalition talks with Netanyahus Likud party, along with the defense ministry which will be led by Gantz. Ashkenazi joined Israels army in 1972 and fought in the Yom Kippur war a year later.