Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the right-wing Likud party was tapped by President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday in order to form a new government. This news was announced after receiving the final results of last week’s deadlocked election. This election took place since Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government in May and dissolved Parliament.
Netanyahu’s deal making skills and his connection with right-wing and religious parties made him Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. He was given six weeks to assemble a government and in case he fails to do so the President can choose the next feasible candidate. In Israel presidents are responsible for choosing the prime ministers. Even though this was just a formality, since Netanyahu nor Gantz, who was a former three-star general
from the centrist Blue and White party was unable to build a stable parliamentary majority on their own the situation has became complicated.
Negotiations were followed soon after the announcement but Gantz and Netanyahu were unable to come to an agreement and Gantz has publicly resisted the idea of allying with the Likud since there is are corruption charges against Netanyahu. Rivlin have also floated the option of Netanyahu forming a government with Gantz as the second-in-command, with the agreement that if Netanyahu is indicted he will step down until he is cleared of any wrongdoing.
At the same time Gantz swore that he will not serve under Netanyahu while he is faced with these charges. At the same time for Netanyahu, this is a golden opportunity. If he somehow manages to form a government, he might be able to pass legislation that would grant him immunity. Israel’s attorney general who filed case against Netanyahu is expected to decide whether to formally charge the prime minister by the end of the year, after a pretrial hearing on October 2.
