Israeli Elections
Trump administration officials say the political stalemate in Israel is leading to a significant missed opportunity from Israel’s perspective, hinting that things may change after the 2020 U.S. elections.
“This is not the time to exclude people. A shared and equal government is possible. It can and it must express the different voices in society,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
“The argument right now revolves around the question as to who should serve as prime minister first and who second. I hope President [Reuven] Rivlin succeeds in bridging both sides, and that a decision will be made on the matter,” said Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avigdor Lieberman.
“A broad unity government is the only feasible option,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to sit down for a “frank discussion.”
With Joint Arab List leader Ahmed Tibi’s confirmation that Balad Party MKs aren’t supporting “General Gantz,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back at the head of the line to form a government.
A majority of the Arab-Israeli public supports the Arab parties joining the government, and 65 percent feel proud of being Israeli, says study.
The Joint Arab List has reportedly presented the Blue and White Party with a list of demands in exchange for recommending that its leader, Benny Gantz, form the next government.
At the start of the meeting with Blue and White, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told the party faction, “The people of Israel want a government that will be stable. A stable government cannot be a government without both of the two largest parties.”
Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be pushing all the buttons necessary to pressure Benny Gantz into joining his government; their two parties alone would form a majority of 64 seats.
Refusing to even discuss a Netanyahu-led unity government, Gantz criticizes premier’s “spins”; Lieberman calls on Netanyahu to “quit the political exercises, tricks and shtick.”
Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figure says the terrorist organization is “closely monitoring” developments in Israel following the election.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls on Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to meet him “at any hour today” to discuss the possibility of forming a “broad unity government.”
