Israeli Centrists in ‘Talks’ with Likud over Unity Government

Blue and White parliamentary faction leader Benny Gantz announced that he was “in talks” with representatives of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party to form a national unity government following September’s elections – although without Netanyahu. At the official launch of his campaign for the snap September 17 election, Gantz suggested that “everyone understands the need for a broad and stable government,” adding that “we know that they [Likud members] are also getting ready for the day after Netanyahu.” In April’s vote, Blue and White received the same number of seats as the Likud (35), but Netanyahu received a mandate to form a coalition because the majority of party leaders deemed him more likely than Gantz or anyone else to succeed. Nevertheless, Netanyahu was unable to come to terms with one of his key “natural partners,” Yisrael Beytenu chief and ex-defense minister Avigdor Liberman, ostensibly over a disagreement related to a bill to draft ultra-Orthodox youths into the army. Gantz’s comments come on the heels of recent reports that Blue and White and Likud officials were attempting to stave off the upcoming vote by forming a unity government on condition that Netanyahu steps down. The prime minister is facing probable indictments in three separate corruption cases.