Benny Gantz, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu lead the two largest parties in Israel's latest parliament. Reuters
Benny Gantz, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu lead the two largest parties in Israel's latest parliament. Reuters

Benny Gantz asks rival Benjamin Netanyahu to join him in forming Israel government



Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join him in a unity administration on Monday after receiving an official mandate to try to form Israel's next government.

In a sharp blow to Mr Netanyahu, who had declared victory in a March 2 election, 61 of parliament's 120 legislators voiced support for Mr Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, in consultations with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday.

At a televised ceremony on Monday, Mr Rivlin gave Mr Gantz 28 days, with the option of a two-week extension, to assemble a ruling coalition.

But Mr Gantz's backers include opposing forces – the Joint List of Arab parties and the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu faction led by former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman – that complicate efforts to form a viable government without wider support.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Lieberman have proposed a six-month "national emergency government" grouping Blue and White and the prime minister's right-wing Likud party, to confront the coronavirus crisis.

"I give you my word, I will do all in my ability to establish within a few days as broad and patriotic a government as possible," Mr Gantz said at the nomination ceremony.

The March 2 election was Israel's third inconclusive parliamentary poll in less than a year. Mr Gantz and Mr Netanyahu discussed forming a coalition government with a "rotating" leadership arrangement after the previous election in September but failed to agree. Mr Netanyahu insisted on holding the prime minister's post for the first two years but Mr Gantz said he refused to serve under someone facing criminal charges

Mr Netanyahu was supposed to stand trial for alleged corruption this week but proceedings were postponed to May 24 because of the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Gantz called on his rival to agree to a unity deal this time.

"The time has come for an end to empty words," he said at Monday's ceremony. "It's time to set aside our swords and unite our tribes and defeat hatred."

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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