• Elections Israel, Gantz and Netanyahu before the puzzle
  • Israel, slow scrutiny. Gantz and Netanyahu paired: Lieberman balance needle
  • Israel, exit poll: head to head Netanyahu-Gantz

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19 September 2019 Benjamin Netanyahu did not succeed in reconfirming himself as Israel's prime minister, a role he has held since 2009. His Likud got 31 seats, his rival Benny Gantz, with the Blue and White party, obtained 33, winning the elections.

But Netanyahu still wants to do it. Netanyahu urged Gantz to join him to form a national unity government. Following the elections that saw the two main opponents go head-to-head, 95% of the counting shows that both do not have the necessary numbers to form a majority executive, or 61 seats out of 120 of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset).

"Let's meet, we must form a unity government," the Likud leader pointed out to Gantz in a video on Twitter asking for a meeting today to "continue this process which is more relevant than ever". According to Netanyahu "the State of Israel needs the widest possible unity government". In October, the outgoing premier seriously risks ending up on trial for corruption.

התוקפנות של איראן גוברת בזמן האחרון, כולל במפרץ, וזהו בדיוק הזמן להוסיף לחצים וסנקציות. אני שמח שהנשיא טראמפ שה בדיוק את זה. pic.twitter.com/DBFkKptwIb

- Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) September 18, 2019

The appeal launched by Likud leader Benny Gantz replied: "I intend to form a broad and liberal unity government, but under my leadership".

The high turnout penalizes the outgoing premier. Possible scenarios
They all voted. Arab-Israeli voters have grown by 11 points, from 49 to 60%. In total, the turnout has increased to 69.4%, one more point since the last elections of April 9th.

Also in that case there was a head to head with Netanyahu who tried to form a majority government but failed. The Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, during the memorial ceremony for Shimon Peres (head of state from 2007 to 2014) assured that he will do "everything possible to avoid a third election".

At the ceremony there were both Netanyahu and Gantz. The two adversaries, smiling, shook hands. Who knows if now they will become allies for a great coalition that would lead to a total of 64 seats, or even for a mega coalition of 73 seats with the addition of the 9 seats conquered by the leader of Yisrael Beitenu, Avigdor Lieberman.

The Moldovan, who immigrated to Israel in 1978, has been a loyal ally of Netanyahu for eleven years, before founding his Russian traction party in 1997. For years he was Bibi's main support party, but this time Lieberman will not support the center-right coalition.