Netanyahu expected to have first crack at forming Israeli government
In latest twist, the veteran premier gains one recommendation over Gantz after Arab party dilutes its support
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently positioned first in the attempt to form Israel’s next government, after Israeli-Arab Balad party pulled its support for head of Blue & White Benny Gantz overnight Sunday.
In a dramatic turn of events, a senior member of the Joint (Arab) List from the Ta'al party Ahmad Tibi sent a letter to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to withhold three votes of recommendation for Gantz as prime minister, at the request of the more extreme Israeli-Arab Balad party.
President Rivlin opened his consultations talks on Monday morning with United Torah Judaism's representatives, saying, “Overnight, it was apparent that three of the Gantz recommendations renounced their support, and indeed, the chairman of the Joint List alliance confirmed to us that this is their request and that his faction accepts it.”
Rivlin added that “at the moment there are 43 recommendations for Gantz, 40 for Netanyahu. All members of the Knesset [Israeli parliament] are important and every one of them represents its sector in the most loyal fashion.”
Both the United Torah Judaism and Yamina parties unanimously recommended Netanyahu for prime minister after meeting with the president at his residency in Jerusalem.
In light of the change by the Joint List in changing their support to ten votes instead of the 13 for Gantz, Netanyahu is set to squeak ahead with 55 recommendations to Gantz’s potential 54, once again placing the incumbent prime minister ahead to try to form a government.