Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu urges rival Gantz to form coalition

Benjamin Netanyahu's main challenger Benny Gantz on Thursday presented himself as next prime minister, hours after embattled Israeli premier urged Blue and White leer to join him in forming a unity government to avoid a third election.

With nearly 97 per cent of votes counted on Thursday, Gantz's Blue and White party won 33 seats while Netanyahu's Likud secured 31 seats in Israel's 120-member Parliament.

Gantz, 60, said he intends to form and le a "bro, liberal, unity government."

"After an election that was forced on Israel, (people) voted and me a clear choice. people voted for unity and Kahol Lavan won election. It's biggest party," he ded.

He said Israeli people wanted a unity government after last election too and vowed to form a "bro, liberal unity government."

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"In order to form a unity government, one can't come with political blocs and spins," Gantz said, referring to right-wing religious bloc's move to recommend Netanyahu as next prime minister after clear winner emerged in unprecedented repeat polls.

"You come with responsibility and seriousness. I attend to act accordingly," Gantz was quoted as saying by Haaretz.

Gantz said he will t accept any dictates. "re will be shortcuts."

His comments came after 69-year-old Netanyahu said he wanted to form a right-wing government, but results showed it was t possible. He called on Gantz to meet him "at any hour today" in order to hold discussions for a unity government.

"Benny, it's on us to establish a wide unity government today. nation expects us, both of us, to work toger. Let's meet today. At any time, at any moment. In order to begin this process that is demanded of us at this time," he said.

"We cant and have reason to go to a third election. I oppose it. call of hour is to form a bro unity government today," he said.

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"re is choice but to establish a wide unity government as wide as possible that's me up of all officials that Israel called on," Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying.

Netanyahu recalled unity government between Shimon Peres and his Likud rival Yitzhak Shamir that was created in 1980s when election results were similarly delocked.

"When re was clear outcome from Knesset elections, Shimon chose national unity. He and Yitzhak Shamir agreed to cooperate - to navigate Israel's path to safety," Likud leer said.

He called on Gantz to follow in Peres' footsteps so that toger y could similarly navigate Israel to safety, paper said.

His statement about Peres-Shamir cooperation was seen as a reference to a possible rotation in Prime Minister's Office. Peres and Shamir rotated as prime ministers from 1984 to 1988, paper ded.

Blue and White, however, rejected offer as "spin."

Earlier, leers of all parties in right-wing religious bloc on Thursday signed a document to recommend Netanyahu as next prime minister and vowed to enter a coalition only as a single unit.

document was signed by Netanyahu; United Torah Judaism leer Yaakov Litzman; and Yamina MKs Ayelet Shaked, Naftali Bennett, Rafi Peretz and Bezalel Smotrich. Shas leer Aryeh Deri gave his consent via phone and said he would sign document soon.

Netanyahu called snap election after failing to form a governing coalition with a viable majority after April's vote.

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His victory in April 9 polls securing him a record fifth term proved temporary in face of a logjam between potential coalition partners over a military conscription bill governing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.

With clear winner, some analysts here see chances of a coalition government coming in place quite bleak at moment.

Netanyahu, who has been premier for a total of more than 13 years, faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in connection with three cases.

Israel has always h a coalition government and never seen a single-party rule since its independence. religious parties, mselves a divided lot but definitely on Right side of political spectrum, have always been a part of coalition governments except one led by Ariel Sharon.

Labour party leer Amir Peretz and Democratic List leer Ehud Barak have served in governments led by Netanyahu at different times during last ten and a half years.

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