Israeli Elections
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.”
Sources close to Israel’s President Rivlin say mandate to form government will be passed to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, Israeli media reports • Three arrested during clashes between pro- and anti-Netanyahu demonstrators outside attorney general’s home.
Benjamin Netanyahu is in his second week of a 28-day period during which he’s been tasked to form a government. If he fails, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz stands ready to get his shot.
The cloud of no leader being able to form a majority coalition could be felt, and talk was centered on the need to form a unity government led by the two largest parties: Likud, and Blue and White.
Blue and White offers Netanyahu a power-sharing deal if he leaves office for the next two years • Gantz to Netanyahu: “I don’t want to see you behind bars. I hope you are innocent, but we need a prime minister.”
Yisrael Beiteinu leader: If there’s no progress by Yom Kippur, “we will enter any effort to form a government in high gear”; Netanyahu: “Yair Lapid is the only reason there is no unity government.”
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz cancels last-minute meeting with Likud • Likud Party accuses Blue and White of having decided to “go to elections.”
The major party heads are between a rock and a hard place, with no one budging for now.
