Israeli Elections
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz will sit down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night with just 26 hours to go before his mandate expires.
Blue and White minority coalition would be celebrated by Israel’s enemies “like a terror attack,” Israeli premier says at Likud rally • Party calls on Netanyahu to abandon right-wing bloc.
Minority government “the worst option of all,” says Israeli premier • Gantz: “Send in your negotiating partners, and let’s finally resume direct and genuine talks.”
Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman’s threat to join a Blue and White-led minority government with Arab parties is “highly implausible,” says Likud official.
“I release [Benjamin] Netanyahu from any commitment to me and to the New Right, and am ready to sit in the opposition. The main thing is to get a government established,” says the New Right leader.
Benny Gantz is eyeing a possible minority government with the Joint Arab List, though Knesset members insist that won’t happen—and neither would a third round of elections, if they can help it.
“The Western Wall is long enough for all,” Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz tells Jewish leaders meeting in Jerusalem, vowing to promote the implementation of the 2016 Western Wall agreement if given the chance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to “dictate the entire public agenda” • Blue and White No. 2 Yair Lapid: “All Netanyahu needs to do is agree to be second in a rotation agreement.”
Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, Joint List, Labor-Gesher and Meretz leaders agree to meet with the prime minister-designate; Likud stresses premier will be negotiating on behalf of 55-seat right-wing bloc.
“There is no justification for forcing another election cycle—the third—on the Israeli public. If no government is formed, the Israeli public are the ones who will pay the price,” said Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin.
Lip service aside, senior Likud members are already “deep in the race” to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as head of the party.
Blue and White leader says he is “optimistic” regarding assembling a majority coalition over the next 28 days; Netanyahu: “I made every effort to bring Benny Gantz to the negotiating table.”
