Israel PM Netanyahu concedes he can't form government, paving way for Gantz coalition

Israel's president is expected to ask Benny Gantz to form a government after PM Benjamin Netanyahu formally conceded failure in forming a ruling coalition.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

21 October, 2019

Benjamin Netanyahu failed to pull together a ruling coalition [Getty]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the country's president that he is unable to form a government, follwoing nearly a month of political wrangling to save his position as premier.

President Reuven Rivlin is now expected to ask Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz to attempt to put together Israel's next government.

The news comes just days after Netanyahu signed an agreement on Wednesday with his right-wing allies, securing their support and making it more difficult for Gantz to form a minority government.

"If, perish the thought, a minority government is sworn in with the support of Joint List or part of it, we will not join this government at any time, we will vote against it and work in any way to bring it down," the agreement said.

Gantz's Blue and White finished the 17 September elections with the largest number of seats in Israel's Knesset, but neither he nor Netanyahu's Likud party secured a clear path to a majority coalition.