For the second time this year, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to form a new government, this will however give an opportunity for his rival, Benny Gantz, to do so.
The former Israeli Defense Force chief of staff’s chances are no more certain, as Israel faces the reality of protracted political deadlock and a growing possibility of a third general election within 12 months.
In a statement, Netanyahu explained why he was returning the formal right to form a ruling coalition to President Reuven Rivlin. He said: “In the course of the recent weeks, I made every effort in order to bring Benny Gantz to the negotiating table, every effort in order to establish a wide national government, every effort to prevent additional elections. Unfortunately, time after time he simply refused.”
For the first time in a decade, Netanyahu is not firmly in charge of Israeli politics. He has united the religious Zionist and ultra-Orthodox parties under his leadership and tightened his grip on his own Likud party, but he has been unable to win an election decisively two times in a row.
Following that, a potential indictment in ongoing corruption investigations before the end of the year, which could deal another major blow to the longest-serving leader in Israel’s history. Netanyahu has however maintained his innocence on the issue, but if he is formally charged it would likely mean further damage in both his political and personal life.
He has been considered the magician of Israeli politics, Netanyahu had 28 days to negotiate the formation of a government and he could have requested two additional weeks as is standard in Israeli politics but he decided to return the mandate to the President a few days early, a day that happened to be his 70th birthday.
Netanyahu’s failure gave an opportunity for his chief political opponent to get the chance to form a government. Blue and White Party leader, Gantz , can expect to receive the mandate from the President, but only after parliamentary factions inform him if they have updated their position on their choice to form the next government.
In a statement, Gantz has said he was ready to pick up the mandate and attempt to get a breakthrough.
“The time of spin is over, and it is now time for action. Blue and White is determined to form the liberal unity government, led by Benny Gantz, that the people of Israel voted for a month ago,” his party said in a statement.
Gantz’s political partner in Blue and White was more direct. “Netanyahu has failed again which has now become an habit from him,” said Yair Lapid.
