Netanyahu admits he is unable to form right-wing government

Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted here is no chance he can form a right-wing government after Israel's fraught election and called on his main rival, centrist Benny Gantz, to join him in a “broad, unity government” to break the deadlock.

In a seemingly 180-degree turn, the embattled prime minister personally appealed to Mr Gantz, the country’s former army chief, to join forces in a video statement.

Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving premier, had been vowing to form a right wing “Zionist government” led by the Likud. But partial results and exit polls showed that Blue and White will sweep more of the 120 Knesset seats than Mr Netnayahu’s party. As of Thursday morning, the partial results were showing that Mr Gantz’s bloc may in fact be larger than Mr Netanyahu’s but neither are large enough to secure the 61-seat majority needed to form a government.

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