Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has given Parliament President Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu another 48 hours to form a unified government. Gantz had applied for the extension to Rivlin “with support” from Netanyahu, the President’s office said.
SN / APA (AFP) / MICK TSIKAS
President Rivlin gives opponents more time
Rivlin agreed to the request, provided that both politicians were on the verge of reaching agreement on a unified government, it said. Gantz’s government-building deadline expired on Monday at midnight (local time). Previously, he had appealed to Netanyahu to form a unified government.
Gantz was commissioned by President Reuven Rivlin to form a government after the parliamentary election in March. The former army chief had originally refused to participate in a government with the corruption-charged Netanyahu. In view of the coronavirus pandemic, however, both spoke out in favor of a “national emergency government”.
Since then, Gantz has been negotiating with Netanyahu to form a unified government. So far, both sides have not been able to agree. On Saturday, Gantz asked the president for two weeks more. An agreement is about to be signed, Gantz’s blue-and-white list said. Rivlin rejected the application on Sunday. On Monday, both sides confirmed that the talks would continue.
Source: Apa / dpa
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Accessed on April 14, 2020 at 03:57 on https://www.sn.at/politik/weltpolitik/quote-zur-bildung-von-einheitsregierung-in-israel-verlaengert-86162266
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