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Netanyahu Fails to Form New Israeli Government

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he
   has failed to form a new government following last month's inconclusive
   parliamentary election, making way for centrist rival Benny Gantz to
   try to put together a majority coalition of lawmakers and become the
   country's new leader.

   Netanyahu, already the Jewish state's longest serving premier, was
   trying for a fifth term as prime minister. But Netanyahu, head of the
   conservative Likud party, told Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, that
   he was unable to form a 61-seat majority in the Knesset by joining in a
   unity government with Gantz's centrist Blue and White party.

   Rivlin said he now would give Gantz, a former Israeli defense chief, 28
   days to try to form a government, although he too faces daunting odds.
   By law, if Gantz cannot form a government in 28 days, any member of
   parliament can try to form a government in the next 21 days after that.

   But if that also fails, Israel would be forced to hold its third
   parliamentary election since April.

   Gantz's party won 33 seats in the September election and Netanyahu's
   Likud 32, both far from a majority and forcing each of them to try to
   collect support from parties with smaller representation in the newly
   elected parliament.

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