Netanyahu: No chance for unity with Gantz, Lapid

PM says Blue and White leaders leave no chance for unity government, urges Avigdor Liberman to join coalition in last 48 hours.

Prime Minister Binyamin Neranyahu responded Monday to Blue and White leader MK Benny Gantz's declaration that he would negotiate with the Likud if Netanyahu announced that he was not seeking immunity.

"Gantz and Lapid, enough of the transparent exercises designed to divert attention by refusing to establish a broad national unity government that would establish a defense alliance with the United States and annex large parts of Judea and Samaria," Netanyahu said.

"Because Lapid and Gantz persist in their refusal and deal only with hollow spins, there is only one option to prevent unnecessary elections: I urge Avigdor Liberman to enter into accelerated negotiations in the 48 hours remaining to form a strong national government for Israel," he said.

Earlier, Blue and White Chairman MK Benny Gantz said at the opening of a Blue and White faction meeting Monday afternoon that another election campaign could still be prevented.

"We spent dozens of hours in the negotiating rooms. Netanyahu remained with the same mantra - the immunity bloc, the demand to be first, and also a total veto on progress on basic issues," Gantz stated. "Zero time was spent on matters of essence, all words of barbed wire on complex structures of immunity and fortification. And yet, even today, the chances of preventing these unnecessary and costly elections have not been exhausted."

Gantz called on Netanyahu, "I repeat today what I told you and your representatives from the first day of the negotiations - if you give up on immunity, we can be partners to the beginning of a discourse. You already dragged us to the elections twice because of immunity, cemented the basic lines of the bloc because of immunity, and even now you think that more elections will allow you a majority that will allow you immunity."

"I urge you to pledge with your own voice that you do not ask for immunity," Gantz added, "Come to the citizens of Israel to inform them, before you drag them into another election campaign, what your intentions really are. I urge you to do so today so that we can negotiate directly, without the immunity bloc. On the establishment of a unity government. we will find the way. We will save the people of Israel from these elections, stop engaging the politicians ourselves, and return to work for the citizens of the State of Israel."

"In the State of Israel, which is founded on the foundations of justice in the spirit of the prophets of Israel, the prime minister must be an example for the masses. He must certainly be available to deal with state affairs. It is also a matter of value and normality and not just a practical issue of calendar dates."