Posted on 09/23/2019 7:21:39 AM PDT by Steve1999
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - After failing to secure a clear election victory twice in six months, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister now seems to be calculating that he can stay in power only by sharing it.Following a deadlocked parliamentary election last week, a weakened Netanyahu reissued an offer on Monday to his centrist rival Benny Gantz for a unity government, saying that neither had enough support from respective allies for a majority of 61 seats in the 120-member parliament. There was no sign Gantz, head of the Blue and White Party, would agree to a coalition with Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud. Gantz cited looming corruption charges against Netanyahu in saying no last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Pray for the peace of ISRAEL. GOD’S Will be done in this election.
F’n Reuters, right wing corrupt Bibi and wonderful Centrist Blue and White party.
BiBI deserves to be the PM, and while he has control over the IDF, should just tell Benny and his leftist and even Arab parties to go away.
He can throw out the Arab Votes, and throw out all the Socialist votes.
Then Bibi has a clear victory.
No, not even Netanyahu can throw out the "Arab votes". They were cast by Israeli citizens.... in the only democracy in the Middle East.
As for the IDF, this was the first time Netanyahu did not win the "soldier vote". It went to Gantz--who served as the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Gantz is not “centrist”, he is a Leftist. Bibi is the centrist, forever taking half-measures. In the end, such behavior has got him half-support.
Unity government of B&W and Likud, but without Netanyahu, or a third election seem the most likely alternatives.
The Arab vote went totally for Benny Gantz. Is this the kind of political support he really wants?
Netanyahu's not going quietly in the general Israeli population. It will be up to Rivlin to convince Likud to replace Netanyahu.
Rivlin may be able to do this ... he is fiercely against a third election. And in this last election enough Likud voters stayed home rather than vote again for Netanyahu to cost them seats in the Knesset. Likud may replace Netanyahu for it's own political survival.
Another scenario might be shared power with Gantz serving first as the PM. But Netanyahu is dead set against this because he would be a MK if/when he's indicted ..... and in that position he would have to resign.
This is quite a mess .... but also fascinating. :)
I don't know. It's sorta like Netanyahu building a coalition with ultra-orthodox parties deeply unpopular with half the Israeli population.
There’s weird maneuvering going on. Arab party took back their nomination of Gantz as part of a Leftist strategy to allow Bibi first chance to fail at forming a government, which would put Likud under pressure when Gantz is then given a turn to form a coalition.
Netanyahu has already proclaimed he would be given a second chance to form a government when/if B&W fails. Where he's getting this information is unknown.
BTW... I don't consider Gantz to be a "leftist" ---based on his military career and his past alliance with Netanyahu/Likud. Gantz broke with Likud, and Netanyahu in particular, because he believes a PM should have to resign if indicted. Netanyahu, obviously, does not agree.
You’re thinking of Liberman. IDF leaders have generally been Leftists, and Gantz’ number two Lapid is far left.
The usual protocol is the candidate with the most nominations is given first chance. That looked to be Gantz, but strategy shifted and it looks like Netanyahu has one more nomination. First try seems doomed to fail.
Pres.Rivlin has said that unless there are real unity negotiations, he will name the first try guy Wednesday.
I don’t think Gantz is far left ... he shares the same opinion with Netanyahu on Iran and the Palestinians. Where they differ is on domestic issues, especially the role of the ultra-orthodox in Israeli life and Arab-Israelis as full citizens of the country.
I'm beginning to doubt it will matter. Netanyahu needs to be the prime minister if/when indicted. If he can't see a way to win this, he will maneuver a third round of elections to make sure he stays Prime Minister, again.
I'd prefer to see Likud replace Netanyahu and unify with B&W. But I never underestimate Netanyahu's will to survive.. and not just politically this time. He'll drag out a third election if this benefits HIM the most.
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