Israel's President Picks Gantz to Form Government After Netanyahu Gives Up

JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin officially gave Blue and White party leader and former military chief Benny Gantz the mandate to form a new government on Wednesday. 

According to law, Gantz will have 28 days starting Thursday to form a government without the possibility of a time extension. 

When handing him the mandate, Rivlin said, "During the consultations I held with the Knesset factions before deciding who should form a government, 54 Knesset members expressed support for MK Benny Gantz. Accordingly, I have decided to give you the opportunity to assemble a government."

Gantz, who is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, has the opportunity to form a government coalition after Netanyahu announced Monday that he is unable to do so. 

Netanyahu fell short of securing a 61-seat parliamentary majority after last month's election. Rivlin tapped Netanyahu to form a government first because he had more support among Knesset lawmakers - 55 seats - while Gantz could only muster 54. 

That Gantz total drops to just 44 seats without three parties in the Joint List, a coalition of Arab-Israeli parties that opposes Israel and has never been part of the government.

Netanyahu said he had worked "tirelessly" to establish a unity government with Gantz, but said Gantz rejected his attempts. 

Blue and White said Monday it will build the "liberal unity government, led by Benny Gantz, that the people of Israel voted for."

Rivlin expressed support for a unity government that includes Likud and Blue and White. 

"I proposed a plan with the aim of clearing a path for Likud and Kachol Lavan (Blue and White) to establish a unity government. The roadmap I proposed is not perfect but it seeks to pave a way for a new government that takes the election results into account, as well as relations between the various parties and their supporters," Rivlin said. 

Gantz's task will be an uphill battle. 

Gantz has expressed a willingness to form a government with Netanyahu, but not if Netanyahu continues to lead Likud while battling serious corruption charges. 

Likud shows no signs of abandoning Netanyahu. 

If Gantz fails to form a government before the deadline, a majority of lawmakers will vote to endorse a third candidate to form a government. 

If that fails, Israel will be forced into a third election - an option Rivlin wants to avoid. 

"A government can be established," Rivlin said. "There is no justification for imposing another round of elections, for the third time within a year, on the Israeli public. If a government is to be formed, everyone will pay a price. But if this is not the case, the citizens of Israel will pay the greatest price of all. The keys to forming a government in Israel are currently in the hands of all elected officials, of all parties. I call on all elected officials not to erode public confidence in Israeli democracy. In the name of this dear people, and for the good of Israeli citizens [everywhere] I wish you success, said the president to Gantz.”