Israel's Benny Gantz unable to form coalition as possibility of 3rd election looms

Benny Gantz, the chief rival of longtime Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, failed to form a new government by a Wednesday deadline, dashing his hopes of toppling Netanyahu and pushing the country closer toward an unprecedented third election in less than a year.

The announcement by Gantz, the leader of the centrist Blue and White party, prolonged the political paralysis that has gripped the nation for the past year. It also provided a new lifeline for the embattled Netanyahu, who is desperate to remain in office as he prepares for an expected indictment on corruption charges, possibly as early as Thursday.

Gantz, a former military chief, was tapped as the prime minister-designate last month after Netanyahu failed to cobble together a coalition government in the wake of inconclusive September elections. But during four weeks of intense negotiations, Gantz was unable to muster the support of a required majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Addressing reporters, Gantz accused Netanyahu of scuttling attempts to form a broad-based unity government between their parties.

"He should have come to terms with the fact that the outcome of the elections required him to negotiate directly, with no blocks or barriers," Gantz said angrily.

"Most of the people chose a liberal unity government headed by Blue and White," he added. "Most of the people voted to weaken the power of extremists, and most of the people voted to go on a different path from that of Netanyahu in recent years."

Under Israeli law, the Knesset now enters a 21-day period where any legislator can try to muster a 61-seat majority and become prime minister. That means both Gantz and Netanyahu will continue their efforts to reach out to smaller parties, and to explore the possibility of a unity government. Dark-horse candidates may also emerge.

In a statement late Wednesday, Blue and White said he had informed President Reuven Rivlin that he was unable to form a coalition. He said he would work over the next 21 days "to form a good government for the citizens of Israel."

Gantz's Blue and White is the largest party in the Knesset, with 34 seats, just ahead of Likud's 33, meaning the two men together could control a majority. But during weeks of talks, they could not agree on the terms of a power-sharing agreement, including who would first be prime minister.

With neither side showing compromise, the country could be forced to hold another election in March. Opinion polls have indicated a new election would deliver similar results to September's inconclusive vote, signalling additional months of post-election horse trading.

Netanyahu's mounting legal woes

The race, however, could be shaken up by the expected indictment of Netanyahu in a series of corruption cases. Channel 13 TV reported that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has decided to file fraud and breach of trust charges, and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday. There was no immediate confirmation from the Justice Ministry.

Netanyahu is desperate to remain in the prime minister's post, where he would be best positioned to fight the charges and seek immunity from prosecution from the Knesset. With the exception of the prime minister, Israeli law requires public officials to resign if charged with a crime.

As Netanyahu's legal woes have mounted, his Likud party has remained firmly behind him. But that could change if there is a formal indictment, and he could begin to face calls to step aside. It also is unclear how voters beyond his political base would react to an indictment.

Gantz has ruled out a partnership with Netanyahu at a time when he is facing trial, but has said he has no objections to partnering with Likud if it is led by someone else.

Wednesday's crisis was triggered by Avigdor Lieberman, leader of a small secular, ultranationalist party who has emerged as Israel's political power broker.

Neither Gantz nor Netanyahu was able to form a majority government without Lieberman's support. But on Wednesday, Lieberman said he would not endorse either candidate.

Lieberman, a former Netanyahu ally who hails from the former Soviet Union, has objected to the outsize influence of ultra-Orthodox religious parties and refused to join Netanyahu's coalition of religious and nationalist partners after April elections. That forced the second election in September.

Lieberman had urged Netanyahu and Gantz to form a broad, secular unity government as a way out of the stalemate.

Speaking to reporters, Lieberman blamed both men for the failure.

"I made every effort. I turned over every stone," he said. "There were no significant gaps, they were mainly personal gaps and after it all, at least for now, it seems we are heading for another election."

Lieberman said he objected to Netanyahu's alliance with "messianic" religious parties, while he also accused Gantz of reaching out to religious parties and not negotiating in good faith.

Lieberman also ruled out a "minority" government that would depend on outside support from Arab politicians. Lieberman has frequently been accused of racism for describing the country's Arab minority as a threat from within.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu had lambasted Gantz for dangling the prospect of a minority government with Arab partners. His comments drew accusations of racism and incitement and a stern lecture fromRivlin, who berated Netanyahu's "ugly" words.

After Lieberman's announcement Wednesday, Netanyahu called upon Gantz to join him in forming a unity government. "I think we must not drag this country into another election," he said at a Likud faction meeting.

Yuval Shany, vice-president of research at the Israel Democracy Institute, said there is little appetite for new elections, but the expected indictment would complicate unity talks.

"I think what we will see now is the continued negotiations over the formation of a grand coalition," he said.