Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz is given month to form new Israel government

JERUSALEM — Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz will be given the first opportunity to form a new government after an inconclusive national election this month, the country’s president said Sunday, raising questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future.

The decision by President Reuven Rivlin was announced by his office after he consulted with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament. He will formally designate Mr. Gantz with the task Monday and give him a month to cobble together a governing coalition.

The political wrangling comes at a sensitive time. Mr. Netanyahu has been leading the country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat, with over 200 cases diagnosed and the number quickly rising. Mr. Netanyahu also faces serious legal troubles as he prepares to go on trial to face corruption charges.

Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party in the March 2 election, Israel’s third in under a year. But with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, he received the support of only 58 lawmakers during Sunday’s consultations, leaving his right-wing bloc three seats short of the required majority in parliament.

Mr. Gantz’s Blue and White received the support of parties representing 61 seats, a slim majority. However, those parties are also divided, and it is not clear whether Mr. Gantz will succeed in putting together a coalition. One lawmaker refused to endorse either side.

Given the likelihood of continued deadlock, Mr. Rivlin late Sunday summoned both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz to an emergency meeting, where the men pledged to explore a unity government.

In a joint statement, both parties thanked Mr. Rivlin and said their leaders “agreed for the respective negotiation teams to meet soon.”

Mr. Rivlin had earlier called for a power-sharing unity government to lead the country through its many crises. Israel has gone through three inconclusive elections in the past year, leaving it with a caretaker government as it confronts a host of challenges, including the coronavirus battle.