Israel’s Netanyahu clutches political lifeline – TheNigerialawyer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s president has thrown Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a political lifeline, asking him to try
to form a government after he failed to secure a clear election
victory twice in six months.

The inconclusive ballot on Sept. 17 left had Netanyahu weakened
and his right-wing Likud party in second place, with 32 seats
versus 33 for former armed forces chief Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue
and White party in the 120-member parliament.

But neither leader was able on his own to put together a
coalition with a ruling majority, or reach a power-sharing deal for
a unity government between their two parties.

Facing stalemate, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu on
Wednesday with what could be an impossible mission, leaving Gantz
waiting on the sidelines to see whether he will get a chance should
Israel’s longest-serving leader not succeed.

As things stand now, Netanyahu still has no clear path to a
fifth term after a decade in power – and there’s also no obvious
road to victory for political newcomer Gantz.

WHY DID RIVLIN CHOOSE NETANYAHU?
Under Israeli law and after consultations with leaders of parties
that won parliamentary representation, the president picks a
legislator the head of state deems has the best chance to put
together a government.

In tapping Netanyahu, Rivlin noted that 55 lawmakers in a
right-wing and religious bloc had pledged support for the Likud
chief versus 54 for Gantz in a grouping that includes 10 Arab
members of parliament who said they would not serve in any
government.

Talks launched on Tuesday between Netanyahu and Gantz on forming
a unity administration, possibly with a rotating premiership, went
nowhere.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Netanyahu now has 28 days to announce whether he has assembled a
governing coalition. He can ask Rivlin for a 14-day extension, if
necessary.

The canny politician, dubbed “the magician” and “King Bibi” by
his supporters, may not even wait that long.

Looking at a static political lineup and with no obvious way out
of the deadlock, Netanyahu has already played down his chances of
coalition-building, touching off speculation that he will “return”
his presidential mandate soon.

That could set up a scenario – one that some political pundits
say Netanyahu could actually be counting on – where Rivlin turns to
Gantz who, lacking the numbers in parliament, fails as well.

“My inability to form a government is slightly less than that of
Gantz,” Netanyahu said, accepting the task, and repeating a call
for a unity government with Blue and White.

WHAT IF BOTH MEN FAIL TO FORM A GOVERNMENT?
With little appetite among Israeli voters for a third trip to the
polls in less than a year if no government emerges, public pressure
could grow for Netanyahu and Gantz to compromise and join
forces.

Asserting they are giving the people what they want, they could
feel free to walk back promises they made to their respective
allies – pledges that served as obstacles to a unity
administration, some political pundits said.

Under that game plan, Gantz would be able to abandon his vow not
to sit in a government with a prime minister facing possible
charges in three corruption cases.

Netanyahu, who denies the bribery and fraud allegations, could
break up his current alliance with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.
Gantz opposes that partnership, saying he seeks a liberal, or
secular, government.

WHAT IF “UNITY” PROVES IMPOSSIBLE?
Wildcard Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beitenu party
won eight seats in parliament, could always come off the fence. But
citing policy differences with Likud’s ultra-Orthodox backers and
Blue and White’s left-wing allies, he has shown no sign of
budging.

So, it’ll likely be election time – again.

That could leave Netanyahu in an even weaker political position,
a two-time failure in doing what used to come easy to him –
building a coalition.

But it would also leave him in his current role of caretaker
prime minister, with any new vote months away.

Netanyahu would retain a commanding position while continuing to
meet world leaders and hammer home a campaign message highlighting
close ties with Israel’s main U.S. ally and dangers posed by
arch-foe Iran.

As prime minister, he would also be under no legal obligation to
resign if formal charges are filed in the corruption cases.

At pre-trial hearings next Wednesday and Thursday, Netanyahu’s
lawyers will try to persuade Israel’s attorney not to press on with
his stated intention to indict him.

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