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Agence France-Presse

Israel’s president on Sunday rejected parliament speaker Benny Gantz’s request for more time to form a government, a task that could now fall to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ex-military chief Gantz was given the mandate to form a government four weeks ago by President Reuven Rivlin following Israel’s March 2 election, the country’s third inconclusive vote within a year.
But Gantz’s prospects for forming a stable coalition were always remote given deep divisions within the anti-Netanyahu camp.
The pro-Netanyahu bloc, including the veteran premier’s right-wing Likud and several religious parties, also remained short of a majority after last month’s vote.

In a surprise move last month, Gantz was elected speaker of Israel’s parliament, or Knesset.
With the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Israel rising, he pledged to use that powerful position to seek an emergency unity alliance with Netanyahu to tackle the pandemic and unblock a grinding year-long political stalemate.
While Gantz’s mandate to form a government technically runs until the end of Monday, he was no longer actively seeking to forge a coalition with himself as prime minister.
Instead, he was widely believed to be pursuing a deal that would see Netanyahu remain as premier for a defined period, possibly then handing power to Gantz.
Despite reports of progress from the two sides – and from Israeli media – no deal has been announced.
Netanyahu indicted on corruption charges after dropping immunity bid
Late on Saturday, Gantz asked Rivlin for an extension of his mandate. In response, Rivlin told Gantz “that in the current circumstances no extension would be possible”, a statement from the president’s office said.
“The president made his decision after also speaking to … Netanyahu, who did not confirm in their conversation that the parties are close to signing an agreement that would lead to a unity government,” the statement said.
If no unity agreement is reached by the end of Monday, Rivlin said he would ask the Knesset to nominate a candidate to become prime minister.
The Netanyahu bloc currently holds 59 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. It is therefore possible, but not certain, that the legislature would give the premier a 14-day window to form a government.


Blue and White, the centrist alliance led by Gantz, said in a statement that “the attempts by the negotiating teams to arrive at a unity government are still ongoing”.
Likud said it too remained open to forming a unity government. But it also urged Rivlin to give Netanyahu a full four weeks to form a coalition.
Likud stressed that the president gave both Netanyahu and Gantz a chance to build a government following the inconclusive votes in September, and should do so again.
But with Israel’s confirmed Covid-19 caseload nearing 11,000, there remain widespread calls from across the political spectrum for a unity alliance, even for a short term.
US ambassador to Israel warns against West Bank annexation
University of Tel Aviv political science professor Emmanuel Navon said “a unity government remains the most likely option”. But, he added, any number of scenarios could play out, including a fourth election.
Netanyahu, in office since 2009, is Israel’s longest-serving premier and the first to be indicted while in office. The premier denies charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, filed against him in January.
Netanyahu critics have charged the premier will stop at nothing to make the indictments disappear, including pushing for a fourth vote in the hope of finally gaining a parliamentary majority that could push through legislation granting him immunity from prosecution.
As Navon noted, the latest polls indicate Likud could “emerge as the big winner” if another election were to be called, partly due to generally favourable views of Netanyahu’s handling of the pandemic.


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Israel

Boost for Israel’s Netanyahu as rival Gantz is denied extension to form government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem in March. Photo: Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, speaks at a regional council chairpersons' conference in Kiryat Anavim, Israel, February 26, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo

Israel’s Gantz requests more time to form government with Netanyahu as expiration date looms

An election banner for the Israeli Blue and White political alliance with the face of its leader retired army general Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: AFP

epa08329017 (FILE) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (C) and Benny Gantz, former Israeli Army Chief of Staff and chairman of the Blue and White Israeli centrist political alliance (R) join hands as they attend a memorial service for late Israeli president Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, in Jerusalem, 19 September 2019. Media reports that Netanyahu has cracked down on advance talks about going to unity government following the state crisis dealing with the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA-EFE/ABIR SULTAN

Questions over Netanyahu’s future as challenger Benny Gantz chosen to form new Israeli government

A banner depicts Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, and Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Reuters

FILED - 23 October 2019, Israel, Jerusalem: leader of the Israeli Blue and White party Benny Gantz (L) shakes hands with Israel's President Reuven Rivlin during a press conference. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will task Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White alliance with forming a government on Monday, his spokesman Jonathan Cummings said. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

FILE PHOTO: A combination picture shows Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 23, 2019 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Kiryat Malachi, Israel March 1, 2020. REUTERS/Corinna Kern, Amir Cohen/File Photo

Israel’s Netanyahu vows ‘immediate’ West Bank annexation steps if re-elected in tight race

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Likud faction meeting in Tel Aviv. Photo: AP Photo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Likud faction meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

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Coalition formation an uphill task given deep divisions within anti-Netanyahu camp
No agreement on unity government so far despite talk of deal after Gantz’s surprise election as parliament speaker



Coalition formation an uphill task for Benny Gantz given deep divisions within anti-Netanyahu camp.
