Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Knesset (parliament) speaker Benny Gantz are continuing talks on forming a coalition government, the Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin granted the leader of the Blue and White alliance, a 48-hour extension to form a coalition government, prolonging a mandate that was set to expire at midnight local time on Tuesday [21:00 GMT on Monday].
The talks will be resumed on Tuesday morning.
The request was made as required by the president, with the support of both sides and on the understanding that they are close to reaching an agreement. The time for forming a government will be extended and will now expire on Wednesday 16 April at midnight.
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) April 13, 2020
Both Netanyahu and Gantz have jointly asked President Rivlin to extend the mandate to form a coalition, Haaretz newspaper reported.
Earlier on Monday, Gantz urged premier Netanyahu to form an emergency unity government together.
"Netanyahu, this is our moment of truth", Gantz said, according to TRT World.
Netanyahu also invited Gantz on Twitter to join him in a national emergency government "that will save lives and act for the citizens of Israel".
בני, אני מחכה לך במעון ראש הממשלה בירושלים - בוא ניפגש ונחתום עוד הערב על הקמת ממשלת חירום לאומית שתציל חיים ותפעל למען אזרחי ישראל @gantzbe
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 13, 2020
Benny Gantz, an ex-military chief and current speaker of Israel's parliament, has failed to form an alliance with his rival Prime Minister Netanyahu over the past three elections.
On 2 March Israel held its third round of parliamentary elections in a year in a bid to resolve the political deadlock. The snap elections' final count of votes saw Likud in the lead with 36 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Blue and White came in second with 33 mandates.
