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| Israeli elections: Arab parties back Gantz to oust Netanyahu | Israeli elections: Arab parties back Gantz to oust Netanyahu |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Israeli-Arab lawmakers have recommended that the former army chief Benny Gantz should become prime minister. | Israeli-Arab lawmakers have recommended that the former army chief Benny Gantz should become prime minister. |
| Last week's election put the incumbent leader Benjamin Netanyahu neck and neck with Mr Gantz, and the two are now vying to build a governing coalition. | Last week's election put the incumbent leader Benjamin Netanyahu neck and neck with Mr Gantz, and the two are now vying to build a governing coalition. |
| Joint List, the bloc of Arab parties that came in third, says it wants to oust Mr Netanyahu from power. | Joint List, the bloc of Arab parties that came in third, says it wants to oust Mr Netanyahu from power. |
| This is the first time since 1992 that an Arab political group has issued an endorsement for prime minister. | This is the first time since 1992 that an Arab political group has issued an endorsement for prime minister. |
| This was Israel's second general election of the year. After the first, in April, coalition talks fell apart and a snap poll was called. | This was Israel's second general election of the year. After the first, in April, coalition talks fell apart and a snap poll was called. |
| Faced with yet another deadlock, Israel's president Reuven Rivlin has recommended the new government includes both Mr Gantz's Blue and White Alliance, and Mr Netanyahu's Likud party. | Faced with yet another deadlock, Israel's president Reuven Rivlin has recommended the new government includes both Mr Gantz's Blue and White Alliance, and Mr Netanyahu's Likud party. |
| Mr Rivlin has said he will do everything he can to avoid a third general election in Israel this year. | Mr Rivlin has said he will do everything he can to avoid a third general election in Israel this year. |
| Aymen Odeh, leader of Joint List, told President Rivlin the alliance's priority was to prevent Mr Netanyahu from serving another term. | Aymen Odeh, leader of Joint List, told President Rivlin the alliance's priority was to prevent Mr Netanyahu from serving another term. |
| Joint List won 13 seats in the election. If Mr Gantz had the endorsement of all 13 seats, he would still fall short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat legislature. | Joint List won 13 seats in the election. If Mr Gantz had the endorsement of all 13 seats, he would still fall short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat legislature. |
| This is a significant exercise of political power by Israel's Arab citizens. | |
| President Rivlin is consulting party leaders about whom he should ask to lead the country after last week's inconclusive election results. The Arab parties put in a strong showing, becoming the third largest force in the legislature. | President Rivlin is consulting party leaders about whom he should ask to lead the country after last week's inconclusive election results. The Arab parties put in a strong showing, becoming the third largest force in the legislature. |
| Their support will not give Benny Gantz and his Blue & White alliance a majority, but it will give him a boost in negotiations about who gets the first chance to form a government. | Their support will not give Benny Gantz and his Blue & White alliance a majority, but it will give him a boost in negotiations about who gets the first chance to form a government. |
| The leader of the Arab grouping, Ayman Odeh, said it wasn't endorsing Mr Gantz and his polices: but was moving to try and block Benjamin Netanyahu from securing another term, and to send a clear message that Israel's future must include the full and equal participation of its Palestinian citizens. | The leader of the Arab grouping, Ayman Odeh, said it wasn't endorsing Mr Gantz and his polices: but was moving to try and block Benjamin Netanyahu from securing another term, and to send a clear message that Israel's future must include the full and equal participation of its Palestinian citizens. |
| More on the Israeli elections: | More on the Israeli elections: |