Netanyahu’s future in doubt as Gantz wins chance to form government

Jerusalem: Israel's President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday announced that Opposition Leader Benny Gantz would be given the first opportunity to form a new government, throwing the political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into doubt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Credit:European Pressphoto Agency

Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party in the March 2 election – Israel's third in under a year – but with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, he received the support of only 58 lawmakers during consultations on Sunday, leaving Likud three seats short of the required majority.

Gantz's Blue and White received the support of parties representing 61 seats, a slim majority. However, those parties are also divided, and it is not clear whether Gantz will succeed in putting together a coalition.

The President had summoned Netanyahu and Gantz to an emergency meeting in the hope of breaking a deadlock that has paralysed the political system. The President is responsible for designating the candidate he thinks has the best chance of being able to form a government by securing a parliamentary majority.

With rival sides evenly divided following the latest election, a unity government may be the only way out of the deadlock, which comes as the government confronts an increasingly serious coronavirus threat.

The opposition is deeply fragmented – with the predominantly Arab Joint List and the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu among them – giving Gantz slim odds of being able to cobble together a government.

Yisrael Beitenu's leader, Avigdor Lieberman, and two members of Gantz's own Blue and White, say they will refuse to be part of a government that relies on support from the Joint List. Another lawmaker originally supportive of Gantz has refused to endorse either side.

Lieberman told the President that he supports Gantz, but also called for the formation of an "emergency" unity government to deal with the coronavirus threat.

Netanyahu, in his caretaker role, has invited Gantz to join him in an emergency government. Gantz has left the door open to such an arrangement, but also dismissed the offers as insincere.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz arrives at party headquarters in Tel Aviv after the March 2 election.Credit:AP

Rivlin called for an urgent resolution, especially with coronavirus risking the health of Israelis.

"Anyone who has watched the news in recent days understands that this is a time of trial, and that these are not regular consultations," he said.

"We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible … at this complex time."

Over the past week, the coronavirus scare has overshadowed the country's precarious political standoff, which comes as Netanyahu prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.

Netanyahu got an important reprieve on Sunday when the Jerusalem court handling the case postponed his trial for two months because of restrictions connected to the coronavirus outbreak.

Netanyahu was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. But following the emergency health measures the government enacted restricting the gathering of people in public places, the court announced that it was pushing back the hearing until May 24.

Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favours with powerful media moguls. The long-ruling Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.

After Netanyahu announced a new series of coronavirus-related restrictions late on Saturday, including the barring of gatherings of more than 10 people, the Justice Ministry announced a state of emergency in the courts as well.

Much of the country ground to a standstill Sunday, with schools, malls and places of entertainment shut down. Employees were encouraged to work from home and strict restrictions have been placed on personal interactions.

The virus has spread to more than 100 countries, infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5700. In Israel, some 200 people have been infected with no casualties yet, as severe measures seem to have proven effective so far.

Netanyahu's legal troubles stood at the centre of Israel's recent parliamentary election, the third such vote in less than a year. As previous elections last April and September, the March 2 vote also ended inconclusively.

AP

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