Netanyahu Fails to Form Government, 3rd Election Prospect Looms
- Israeli president intends to give mandate to Blue and White
- Blue and White says it plans to form liberal unity government
Benjamin Netanyahu
Photographer: Kobi Wolf/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government again, paving the way for a more centrist rival to try his hand or even possibly a third election in less than a year.
The unprecedented political quagmire marks a setback for the country’s longest-serving prime minister, who is awaiting a determination on whether he’ll be sent to trial on corruption charges. However, rival Benny Gantz of the Blue and White bloc appears to have no easier path to forming a government, raising the prospect of yet another revote that might save Netanyahu’s political hide.