Israel PM Netanyahu gives up hope to form government, returns mandate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given up the hope of forming the government and returned his mandate opening doors for his chief rival to form a coalition to run the country. Netanyahu has informed President of Israel Reuven Rivlin on Monday that he is returning the mandate he received to form a government after the end of the Simhat Torah holiday on Monday night and two nights before the deadline for him to build a coalition.

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President has three days to give the mandate

The Israeli president now has three days to give the mandate to Blue and White leader and a rival of Netanyahu, Benny Gantz. In the national elections held in September, Gantz's Blue and White party won 33 seats while Netanyahu's Likud secured 31 seats in Israel's 120-member Parliament.

Netanyahu took to Twitter to release a video complaining that Gantz refused to negotiate with him. In the video, Netanyahu revealed that he initiated talks with Gantz to form a unity government with him, however, Gantz refused the offer. In the video, Netanyahu has warned that a minority government by Gantz would threaten the existence of Israel. “A minority government will be formed with the support of the Joint List of MKs who encourage terror and oppose Israel’s existence,” Netanyahu warned. “How can a minority government led by Gantz and supported by these MKs fight terror?” 

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Gantz aims for a broad, liberal unity government

Netanyahu has asserted that a unity government can still be formed if Gantz fails to form a coalition during the 28 days mandate he receives from Rivlin. Any member of the Knesset (MK) with the support of 61 other MKs can form a government in the following 21 days after the 28 days mandate. If no one succeeds, then the process of re-election will be initiated automatically. 

Rejecting Netanyahu’s offer, Gantz had said that he intends to form and lead a broad, liberal, unity government. He said “the Israeli people wanted a unity government after the last election too and vowed to form a "broad, liberal unity government."

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