Tuesday, 24 September 2019

ISRAEL - Gantz and Netanyahu to Discuss Unity Government On Tuesday

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Gantz, Netanyahu to Discuss Unity Government Tonight
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President Reuven Rivlin wrapped up his consultations with party leaders today, then summoned Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to meet tonight to discuss forming a unity government.

During the party consultations leading up Rivlin's call, the Joint List, an alliance of Arab parties, recommended Gantz, marking the first time an Arab bloc made a recommendation since backing Yitzhak Rabin in 1992. Party leader Ayman Odeh explained why in a New York Times op-ed. But things got complicated when Balad, one of the four parties making up the Joint List, revoked its recommendation. Thus, the three Balad-affiliated MKs made no recommendation.

Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman, who insists on a secular national unity government, also made no recommendation.

So where things stand, Netanyahu has the recommendation of 55 MKs, Gantz has the support of 54 MKs, and the 11 MKs of Balad and Israel Beiteinu made no recommendation.

Adding a further twist, both Gantz and Netanyahu want the other to have the first crack at coalition building. I'll blow up my word count trying to explain that, so see David Horovitz and Mati Tuchfeld's takes.
2
An Ashkelon woman succumbed to injuries from a Palestinian rocket barrage 10 months ago. Nina Gisdenanova, 74, had been comatose ever since her building took a direct hit last November.
3
Israel began reducing power to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians owe the Israel Electric Corp. around $485 million in unpaid bills.
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Israeli bargain hunters flock to the West Bank. "From cigarettes to car repairs and dentistry, Israelis spend millions of shekels in Palestinian villages every year." Coexistence? Whoda thought?
5
Jewish Chronicle: "Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party is this week set to be hit with a libel claim from five of the whistleblowers who appeared in the BBC Panorama documentary that exposed the handling of antisemitism complaints." The suit will claim that the party's response to their accusations amounted to defamation.

Israeli elections: Netanyahu and Gantz take 'significant step' towards deal


Related Topics
Composite image of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny GantzImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionBenjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz held two hours of talks
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent, Benny Gantz, have taken "a significant step" towards forming a unity government, Israel's president has said.
Reuven Rivlin was speaking after hosting a meeting for the two rivals.
No details of the talks have been made public. But a joint statement said chief negotiators for the two main parties would meet on Tuesday.
Last week's general election - the second this year - ended in deadlock.
In a bid to broker a solution, President Rivlin has recommended the new government includes both Mr Gantz's Blue and White Alliance, which won 33 seats, and Mr Netanyahu's Likud party, which won 31.

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