Netanyahu, Gantz talk up unity as their parties sling mud at each other
(Worthy News) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz on Tuesday both expressed willingness to continue efforts to form a unity government that would include both their parties, even as Likud and Blue and White kept hurling accusations at each other.
Gantz was tasked last week with forming a government after 61 lawmakers backed him as prime minister, and he has a week left to form a coalition. However, since he does not have enough votes for a government that relies on the support of both Avigdor Liberman’s hawkish Yisrael Beytenu party and the Arab-majority Joint List, the leading option has remained a unity government.
In recent days, Likud and Blue and White have clashed over the latter’s bid to call a Knesset vote to replace parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein, a Likud member. Such a move would hand Gantz’s party control over the legislative agenda, including, possibly, passing a law that would bar Netanyahu from serving as prime minister. The High Court on Monday night ruled that Edelstein must hold such a vote by Wednesday. Likud has warned that if Edelstein is replaced, that would be the end of unity talks. [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]