Israeli members of parliament were sworn in on Thursday, despite deadlock in the country with two political heavyweights vying for the premiership.
The Knesset could be dissolved soon as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party with roughly the same number of seats and unable to form a coalition to take power.
At the opening session on Thursday, usually a cordial affair, Gantz and Netanyahu sniped at one another, highlighting the frosty relations between the two rivals.
#Israeli #democracy is in a state of emergency, and a government must be formed as soon as possible, @PresidentRuvi Rivlin said at the 22nd Knesset’s inaugural meeting on Thursday.https://t.co/bZEoBDhH4P
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 4, 2019
“The right thing for the citizens of Israel, especially at this time, is for the prime minister to be busy working for them and not preoccupied with indictments,” Gantz said of Netanyahu who has been clouded with allegations of corruption.
“I call upon Netanyahu: Do not barricade yourself in your position. We will take the reins from here and lead the country for the good of the citizens.”
Talks on a possible Blue and White-Likud Party government have collapsed due to Netanyahu insisting on staying on as prime minister. Gantz also appears to be sticking to an election promise not to share power with his rival.
The newly-elected 120 members of the Knesset were sworn into the new parliament or Knesset without a government amidst political deadlock with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calling the centrist Blue and White party to form a broad unity government.https://t.co/NFMazHhB0J
— DT Next (@dt_next) October 4, 2019
This means that the Knesset’s session will likely be short and another general election will likely take place, Israeli watchers believe – the third to take place in Israel this year.
Israel's general election on September 17 has left the country in political deadlock, with neither the "Left" or "Right" political blocs earning enough seats to form a coalition government https://t.co/k5m7G2ra4T
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) October 3, 2019
Despite this, Gantz’s deputy, Yair Lapid, said he was forgoing a previous arrangement to share the premiership should the Blue and White Party come to power, to avoid another election.
Lapid said:
“It’s far more important to me that there’s unity in the country. That there won’t be another election. That this country begins a healing process.”
Netanyahu insists that he won’t step down which increases the chances of another election.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)
