Netanyahu given political lifeline, begins coalition hunt

TEL AVIV - Israel's president has thrown Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a political lifeline, asking him to try to form a government after he failed to secure a clear election victory twice in six months.

The inconclusive ballot on Sept. 17 left Netanyahu weakened and his right-wing Likud party in second place, with 32 seats versus 33 for former armed forces chief Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White party in the 120-member parliament.

But neither leader was able on his own to put together a coalition with a ruling majority, or reach a power-sharing deal for a unity government between their two parties.

Facing stalemate, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu on Wednesday with what could be an impossible mission, leaving Gantz waiting on the sidelines to see whether he will get a chance should Israel's longest-serving leader not succeed.

As things stand now, Netanyahu still has no clear path to a fifth term after a decade in power - and there's also no obvious road to victory for political newcomer Gantz.

Under Israeli law and after consultations with leaders of parties that won parliamentary representation, the president picks a legislator the head of state deems has the best chance to put together a government.

In tapping Netanyahu, Rivlin noted that 55 lawmakers in a right-wing and religious bloc had pledged support for the Likud chief versus 54 for Gantz in a grouping that includes 10 Arab members of parliament who said they would not serve in any government.

Talks launched on Tuesday between Netanyahu and Gantz on forming a unity administration, possibly with a rotating premiership, went nowhere.

King of Israel

Netanyahu now has 28 days to announce whether he has assembled a governing coalition. He can ask Rivlin for a 14-day extension, if necessary.

The canny politician, dubbed "the magician" and "King Bibi" by his supporters, may not even wait that long.

Looking at a static political lineup and with no obvious way out of the deadlock, Netanyahu has already played down his chances of coalition-building, touching off speculation that he will "return" his presidential mandate soon.

That could set up a scenario - one that some political pundits say Netanyahu could actually be counting on - where Rivlin turns to Gantz who, lacking the numbers in parliament, fails as well.

"My inability to form a government is slightly less than that of Gantz," Netanyahu said, accepting the task, and repeating a call for a unity government with Blue and White.

With little appetite among Israeli voters for a third trip to the polls in less than a year if no government emerges, public pressure could grow for Netanyahu and Gantz to compromise and join forces.

Asserting they are giving the people what they want, they could feel free to walk back promises they made to their respective allies - pledges that served as obstacles to a unity administration, some political pundits said.

Under that game plan, Gantz would be able to abandon his vow not to sit in a government with a prime minister facing possible charges in three corruption cases.

Netanyahu, who denies the bribery and fraud allegations, could break up his current alliance with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Gantz opposes that partnership, saying he seeks a liberal, or secular, government.

Wildcard Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beitenu party won eight seats in parliament, could always come off the fence. But citing policy differences with Likud's ultra-Orthodox backers and Blue and White's left-wing allies, he has shown no sign of budging.

So, it'll likely be election time - again.

Nothing to hide

That could leave Netanyahu in an even weaker political position, a two-time failure in doing what used to come easy to him - building a coalition.

But it would also leave him in his current role of caretaker prime minister, with any new vote months away.

Netanyahu would retain a commanding position while continuing to meet world leaders and hammer home a campaign message highlighting close ties with Israel's main US ally and dangers posed by arch-foe Iran.

As prime minister, he would also be under no legal obligation to resign if formal charges are filed in the corruption cases - that obligation would come only if he is convicted with all appeals exhausted.

At pre-trial hearings next Wednesday and Thursday, Netanyahu's lawyers will try to persuade Israel's attorney not to press on with his stated intention to indict him.

Netanyahu himself on Thursday asked the attorney general to allow a live broadcast of his hearing next week because he has "nothing to hide."

"After three years of a deluge of leaks, misleading and partial, it's time the public hears everything -- my side too, completely and fully, without mediators, censors and distorters," Netanyahu said in a video distributed by a spokesman.

"I therefore ask that the attorney general open the hearing to a live broadcast."

Netanyahu denies all the accusations and has labelled them bids by his enemies to force him from office, which he has held for a total of over 13 years.

"There will be leaks anyway, we've seen 300 leaks already with no treatment or investigation. That practice will continue," he said. "So why let the public be fed partial information only?"

"Not only do I have nothing to hide, I want everything to be heard," he said, adding that a live broadcast was "how we can ensure justice and truth."

Netanyahu is not expected to attend the hearing himself.