Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on his main challenger Benny Gantz on Thursday to form a unity government together as election results showed both without an obvious path to a majority coalition.
Netanyahu, in a video message, said he preferred to form a right-wing coalition, but the results showed it was not possible.
The closest we're going to get to a concession from Netanyahu now. "I called before the election for a right-wing government. I'm sorry but the nation didn't choose either of the political blocs". Calls on Gantz to meet him and form together a "broad national-unity government" https://t.co/mMNHiyi0BC
— Anshel Pfeffer (@AnshelPfeffer) September 19, 2019
The admission was a major development following Israel's general election on Tuesday that has put Netanyahu's status as the country's longest-serving prime minister at risk.
"During the elections, I called for the establishment of a right-wing government," Netanyahu said.
"But unfortunately the election results show that this is not possible."
He went on to call on Gantz to form a "broad unity government today."
Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu said that although he preferred to form a right-wing coalition, the election results showed it was not possible https://t.co/ytOM52UATi
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 19, 2019
Gantz had not yet responded, but he has repeatedly called for a unity government.
It is unclear however if he would accept such a government with Netanyahu, who faces possible corruption charges in the weeks ahead, remaining as prime minister.