Israel: President to give opposition leader prerogative to form government

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said on Sunday that he had decided to give opposition leader Benny Gantz the first opportunity to form a government after the latest elections. The decision was announced after consultation with leaders of all parties elected to the Israeli Parliament.

Rivlin called a meeting with Gantz and the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to break the blockade that paralyzed the country’s political system last year, which could threaten Israel’s response to the coronavirus. After the third inconclusive election in a year, a unity government may be the only way to overcome paralysis.

Netanyahu’s party, Linkud, emerged from the March 2 elections as the largest individual force, but it gathered only 58 supporters in Parliament. Opponents, with a narrow majority of 61 seats, had already recommended to the president that he give Gantz the prerogative to form a government. However, these parties are also divided, which makes the formation of a coalition by the leader of the White and Blue party uncertain.

Rivlin said he would formally appoint Gantz on Monday. With formalization, the opposition leader will have a month to form a government.