Middle East

Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to begin discussions of possible Israeli unity government

The talks come after last week's election that did not produce a clear victor.Gantz declared victory in the race, calling Thursday for a unity government under his leadership.Gantz and Netanyahu's meeting Monday was convened by President Reuven Rivlin with the goal of moving the two leaders toward agreement over the shape of the next Israeli government."At the behest of the President, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz mutually discussed ways to advance Israel's unity and agreed that the respective heads of their negotiating teams would meet tomorrow," read a joint statement released after the meeting.Netanyahu's Likud Party negotiating team will be led by Yariv Levin, while Blue and White's will be led by Yoram Turbowicz.Gantz and Netanyahu are then expected back at the President's residence for a "follow-up meeting" on Wednesday evening, the joint statement said.Netanyahu corruption probes: What you need to knowNetanyahu had already said he welcomes the idea of a unity government, albeit after declaring he had unified the support of the far-right and the religious parties behind him.On the face of it, his agreement to launch talks between Likud and Blue and White appears to go back on a promise to his right-religious allies to negotiate as a bloc.Gantz has said he is open to a unity government, but has also said he could not sit in a government with a prime minister under criminal investigation. Netanyahu faces possible charges of bribery and breach of trust, pending a final pre-indictment hearing in front of the attorRead More – Source

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