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Netanyahu Calls for Gantz to Form Unity Government

Linda Gradstein

   JERUSALEM - With no clear winner from Israel's national election, Prime
   Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Thursday for his main challenger
   Benny Gantz to join in forming a unity government.

   In a video message, Netanyahu said that although he had campaigned for
   establishing a right-wing government, "the election results show that
   this is not possible."

   He called for cooperation and urged Gantz to quickly set up a "broad
   unity government."

   Gantz, of the centrist Blue and White Party, has said he would not join
   a unity government as long as Netanyahu remains head of the Likud
   Party. A spokesman said Gantz would make his own statement later
   Thursday.

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