JERUSALEM, Apr 13 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, denied a request by Benny Gantz, Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival, for a two-week extension to form a new coalition government.
In a statement released by the president’s office, Rivlin announced, he will not change the Apr 14 (tomorrow’s) deadline given to Gantz, to try to put together a coalition government, following inconclusive elections.
The decision means Netanyahu and Gantz have until midnight today (Monday), to reach an agreement to form a unity government. If they fail, the country may face a fourth elections, after three rounds of votes in less than a year, produced inconclusive results.
Gantz, who has been negotiating an “emergency” unity government with Netanyahu for more than two weeks, asked Rivlin for an extension on Saturday. He said, his centrist Blue and White party and Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party were “very close” to achieve an agreement.
However, on Sunday, during a talk with Rivlin, Netanyahu denied such an agreement was in sight, according to Rivlin’s statement.
Later, Blue and White party announced it was continuing its talk with Likud. The party said in a statement that, it agrees to form “an emergency” unity government, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, adding that, the main principles of such a unity were agreed last week.
Such a government is expected to leave Netanyahu as prime minister for at least a year-and-a-half, before he would rotate with Gantz.– NNN-MA’AN
