Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party stands at 32 seats after the latest election.
Israel’s weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seen his offer for a coalition with his strongest political rival swiftly rebuffed after the leader failed to secure a governing majority in a tight election.
Netanyahu’s surprise move was an abrupt change of strategy for the right-wing leader.
Its rejection by rival Benny Gantz could spell weeks of wrangling after Tuesday’s election, which followed an inconclusive national ballot in April.
Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party emerged from the second round of voting this year slightly ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud, but also short of enough supporters in the 120-member parliament for a ruling bloc.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, said in a video clip in which he urged Gantz, the country’s former military chief, to meet him “as soon as today”, that he had pledged during the election campaign to form a right-wing, Likud-led government.
“But to my regret, the election results show that this is impossible,” Netanyahu said.
“Benny, we must set up a broad unity government, as soon as today. The nation expects us, both of us, to demonstrate responsibility and that we pursue co-operation.”
Responding to Netanyahu’s call on Thursday, Gantz made no mention of the prime minister and said he himself would head a “liberal” coalition, political shorthand for one that excludes the Israeli leader’s long-time ultra-Orthodox allies.
Gantz said Israelis were eager for a unity government to end the political uncertainty.
Read the article by Jeffrey Heller in The Canberra Times and Shepparton News.