Rival calls off Israel coalition gov’t talks with PM Netanyahu

THE party of Israel’s exmilitary chief Benny Gantz on Tuesday pulled out of planned talks on forming a unity government with main rival Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following deadlocked elections.

Representatives of t he centrist Blue and White a lliance were set to meet on Wednesday with counterparts from Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud, followed by a face-toface encounter bet ween the t wo riva ls.

But on Tuesday night, following a two-day holiday to mark the Jewish New Year, Gantz’s party announced it had cancelled the talks.

“At this stage, the pre-conditions upon which any further meetings between the negotiating teams may take place have not been met.

“Given this, no meeting will be held on Wednesday,” Blue and White said in a statement without ruling out ta lks at a later date.

“When deemed appropriate and necessary, an additional meeting will be scheduled for this week or next,” the party said, adding that the headto-head with Netanyahu had also been called off.

Since the deadlocked September 17 polls, Netanyahu has been scrambling to extend his run as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

The embattled premier is also set on Wednesday to begin pre-indictment hearings led by Israel’s attorney general, who has said he intends to charge Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu’s lawyers, not the premier himself, are expected to attend the closeddoor hearings, due to run four days, giving him a final chance to convince Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit he should not be indicted.

Likud said in a statement t hat it was “stunned by Blue and White’s decision to blow up the negotiations and cancel the meetings” on Wednesday.

“Netanyahu ca l ls once again on Benny Gantz to show responsibilit y, to prevent new elections and to meet him as planned.”

Both sides held out hope for a change of heart by their opponents, but Netanyahu had a lready labelled Wednesday’s planned ta lks a “last ef for t”.

This month’s poll was the second this year after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition following April polls.

Should Netanyahu again tell President Reuven Rivlin he cannot form a government, the head of state will then have to decide whether to ask Gantz to try.

Alternatively, Rivlin could call on parliament to agree on a candidate for prime minister with a vote of at least 61 of 120 members.