The results from Israel’s election committee showed Gantz’s party with 33 seats and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud with 31.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), President Reuven Rivlin (C) and Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, attend a memorial ceremony for late Israeli president Shimon Peres, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on September 19, 2019. - Netanyahu called on his main challenger Benny Gantz on Thursday to form a unity government together as election results showed both without an obvious path to a majority coalition. (Photo by YONATAN SINDEL / AFP) / Israel OUT
Israel might face its third election as poll results confirmed political deadlock with no signs of easing off.
Near-complete official results Friday confirmed a deadlock in Israel’s general election this week, putting Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party as the largest but without an obvious path to form a majority coalition. The results from Israel’s election committee showed Gantz’s party with 33 seats and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud with 31. Final results will be published on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is facing the prospect of an electoral defeat for the first time in more than a decade, in an effort to preserve his power, has called for a unity government with his opponent, Benny Gantz, who is leader of the Blue and White alliance.
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Gantz, a 60-year-old former military chief is new to politics and has indicated he is open to a unity government, as long as it does not include Netanyahu. With Netanyahu politically weakened and facing criminal indictment in three separate corruption cases, Gantz has emerged as a strong candidate to be Israel’s next leader.
Netanyahu has proposed for a Bill which would give him immunity as long as he holds office, but he has not succeeded. His troubles could increase if has to vacate his post of Prime Minister.
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