To Israelis’ Chagrin, Third Election Looking More Probable

While Israelis can’t seem to agree on the selection of a party to lead the country following two rounds of a national election, it’s becoming increasingly clear that what most do agree about is not wanting to see a third election before the matter is settled. But that’s exactly the direction the nation appears to be heading in as it becomes clear that neither of the two deadlocked parties – Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud or Benny Gantz’s Blue-and-White bloc – can weave together at least 61 of 120 seats in parliament. Many believe the two groups could have come together for a unity government had Blue-and-White partner Yair Lapid not cut his own power-share agreement with bloc-head Benny Gantz. That makes Lapid the player with the most to lose by a unity agreement – a factor some are saying should disqualify the Yesh Atid leader from influencing the outcome of bi-party talks. Gantz and Netanyahu were scheduled to hold a last-shot meeting on Wednesday following the Jewish New Year holiday that Gantz abruptly cancelled on Tuesday night – the cancellation believed to have been the work of Lapid, although sources in the bloc deny it’s the case. Meanwhile, attorneys for the prime minister are denying rumors that they are seeking a plea deal in the case.