JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz were in a standoff over calls for a unity government on Thursday as election results put the premier’s long tenure at risk.
But on Thursday afternoon, Gantz made clear that he would have to be prime minister of a unity government, noting that results so far put his centrist Blue and White two seats ahead of Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud. “During the elections, I called for the establishment of a right-wing government,” Netanyahu said in a video message.He went on to call on Gantz to form a “broad unity government today.”“Blue and White has at the time I am speaking won 33 seats, while Netanyahu has not obtained a sufficient majority to form a coalition as he hoped.”
“I hear, loud and clear, the voices calling for a broad and stable national unity government,” he said at the memorial, held to mark the third anniversary of the death of veteran statesman Shimon Peres.Netanyahu appeared to be seeking to seize momentum by announcing his intention to form a unity government and head off attempts to oust him.
Official results have not been announced, but Israeli media have reported that Blue and White has 33 parliamentary seats and Likud 31 out of 120, with 97% of the votes counted.Ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman has emerged as a potential kingmaker, with the reported results showing his nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party with eight seats.
“Let’s sit down – you, Benny Gantz and myself – and establish a broad, liberal national government for the future of the State of Israel.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: msianinsight - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Source: malaysiakini - 🏆 20. / 51 Read more »
Source: malaysiakini - 🏆 20. / 51 Read more »
Source: malaysiakini - 🏆 20. / 51 Read more »
Source: malaysiakini - 🏆 20. / 51 Read more »
Source: msianinsight - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »