Israeli negotiators seek to break Netanyahu-Gantz deadlock

Negotiators for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent Benny Gantz met Tuesday to discuss possibilities for a unity government that both men say they should lead after last week's deadlocked election.

The chief negotiators for Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and Gantz's centrist Blue and White gathered to follow up on a meeting between their two leaders and Israel's president late on Monday.

That encounter was their first formal meeting since the September 17 election ended with Gantz winning the most seats, but with neither having a clear path to a majority coalition.

The two men are due to meet again with President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday.

The negotiators' meeting concluded after two hours, with a joint statement saying it was "topical and carried out in good spirits."
The Likud negotiator, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, noted he was representing "all 55 members of the right-wing bloc."
The two negotiators said they would update their bosses on the meeting "and then decide on further talks and additional steps."
"The responsibility for establishing a government falls on you, and the people expect you to find a solution and to prevent further elections, even if it comes at a personal and even ideological cost."