JERUSALEM, Apr 16 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, failed to meet a midnight deadline on Wednesday night to form an emergency unity government.
Negotiation teams with Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party, convened for coalition talks on Wednesday evening, but no agreement was signed before the deadline.
Senior officials with Blue and White party told Israel’s public TV Kan that, Likud raised “absurd” demands, including giving Netanyahu immunity, from a possible decision by the supreme court, to ban him from running again because of his looming criminal trial in which he faces corruption charges.
The move means that Israel might face a fourth round of election, after three rounds of votes in less than a year produced no clear winner.
Today, Gantz’s mandate to form a new governing coalition, given to him following the Mar 2 elections, is expected to be returned to parliament.
Any lawmaker, who could raise 61 supporters, could be eligible to receive a new mandate to form a governing coalition from the president, who oversees the coalition talks.
A 28-day mandate given to Gantz, speaker of the Israeli parliament and Israel’s former military chief, to put together a governing coalition expired at midnight between Monday and Tuesday.
However, Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, gave him another 48 hours to reach a unity deal after Gantz and Netanyahu said, “a substantial progress” was made towards an emergency government that will deal with the COVID-19 crisis and the nation’s unprecedented yearlong political deadlock.– NNN-MA’AN
