- Title: Weakened Netanyah's offer for unity government rebuffed by rival Gantz
- Date: 19th September 2019
- Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BENNY GANTZ, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S MAIN POLITICAL RIVAL AND HEAD OF BLUE AND WHITE PARTY, DELIVERING STATEMENT, APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) BENNY GANTZ, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S MAIN POLITICAL RIVAL AND HEAD OF BLUE AND WHITE PARTY, SAYING: "I want and intend to set a broad and liberal unity government headed by me, a government that will manifest the will of the people and our core promises to the public." OFFICIALS MOSHE YAALON, CO-LEADER OF BLUE AND WHITE PARTY, DELIVERING STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) MOSHE YAALON, CO-LEADER OF BLUE AND WHITE PARTY, SAYING: "With him, it will not work. We will not enter a coalition led by Netanyahu. We came to fix things, to heal rifts, to get the country back on track. Because with him, it will not work." GANTZ STANDING
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2019 14:53
- Keywords: Israel Benjamin Netanyahu election Benny Gantz Moshe Yaalon unity coalition
- Location: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- City: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AXBQATJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Israel's weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had his offer for a joint coalition rebuffed almost immediately by his main political rival Benny Gantz on Thursday (September 19), after a deadlocked election.
Netanyahu's surprise offer of a power share was an abrupt change of strategy after failing to secure a ruling majority in two national ballots this year. Its rejection could spell weeks of wrangling and possibly a third round of voting, if no government is formed.
Gantz's centrist Blue and White party emerged from Tuesday's ballot slightly ahead of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, but also short of a majority in parliament.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, urged Gantz in a video clip to meet him "as soon as today".
Responding to Netanyahu's call, Gantz made no mention of the prime minister and said he himself would head a "liberal" coalition, political shorthand for one that excludes the Israeli leader's long-time ultra-Orthodox allies.
Gantz said Israelis were eager for a unity government to end the political uncertainty.
He then left it to Moshe Yaalon, a fellow Blue and White leader, to deliver a stinging rejection of a partnership with Netanyahu, citing looming corruption charges against the prime minister, who has denied any wrongdoing.
(Production: Rami Amichai, Rinat Harash) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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