JERUSALEM (AFP) – A coalition government or new elections? Israeli incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz traded blame over faltering talks on Wednesday (Nov 20) ahead of a midnight deadline.

Former military general Gantz has until 11.59pm (2159 GMT) to cut a coalition deal, or the country will edge closer to holding a third round of elections in a year.

Right-wing Mr Netanyahu and centrist Mr Gantz were nearly deadlocked after September elections, with neither able to command a majority in Israel’s 120-seat Parliament.

Mr Netanyahu was first given 28 days to form a coalition government but failed, so President Reuven Rivlin granted Mr Gantz a similar timeframe.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz have been in talks over establishing a unity government with Mr Avigdor Lieberman’s nationalist party, a deal that would see the two men rotate the premiership.

But tweets from Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz on Wednesday implied the talks had broken down.

“Unfortunately, during our meeting last night, Benny Gantz refused to accept the conditions put by Avigdor Lieberman, that is, to accept the President’s solution that, as Prime Minister, I will be the first in rotation,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Mr Gantz for his part accused Mr Netanyahu of intransigence.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is rejecting unity and will do everything possible to drag us into elections for the third time,” Mr Gantz tweeted.

With the hours ticking down, Mr Gantz pledged to continue seeking a deal.

“Any attempt to predict the outcome of Benny Gantz’s mandate is a suicide mission,” columnist Ben Caspit wrote in the Maariv daily Wednesday.

“The path towards establishing a government in Israel has never been at a greater impasse.”

RELUCTANT KINGMAKER

If Mr Gantz is unable to cut a deal by Wednesday, lawmakers have 21 days to propose a candidate capable of forming a majority to the president.

If that period passes without a breakthrough, a third election becomes inevitable.

Polls in April also led to a stalemate in a political system reliant on coalition building.

Mr Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party has eight parliamentary seats and his backing could be enough to put either Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing or Mr Gantz’s centrist coalitions into power.

But the former defence minister has proved a reluctant kingmaker.

He has been wary of backing Mr Gantz, as even if he did, they would fall short of a majority, needing at least the tacit support of the Arab Joint List to govern.

But Mr Lieberman, a right-winger known for his tough rhetoric towards Gaza, has reiterated his opposition to allying with Arabs.

He also accuses Mr Netanyahu of being captive to the whims of ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up around 10 per cent of the population, objecting to the community’s exemption from military service.

‘MIRACLE’

Mr Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009, is also facing corruption allegations that could threaten his political career.

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit is due to decide by December whether to charge Mr Netanyahu over a series of graft accusations he denies.

An indictment might permanently damage Mr Netanyahu’s support, whereas a reprieve could give him a new lease of life.

All sides say they are committed to avoiding new elections, but Mr Caspit said he thought it was unlikely.

“We are going to need a miracle to avert a third election – either that or a bold, surprising and courageous decision by one of the players.”

However, Kan Radio’s political correspondent Yoav Krakovsky said he expected Mr Lieberman to eventually back a narrow right-wing Netanyahu government, but with significant concessions, including from the ultra-Orthodox parties.

Source: Read Full Article