This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On Monday, October 21, 2019, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed President Reuven Rivlin that he could not form a new government following the deadlocked September elections.
Netanyahu's decision marks an important defeat for the long-serving prime minister, who has been seeking to continue his tenure as Israel's longest-serving prime minister.
However, this does not mean the end of Netanyahu's efforts to remain in power, as he still has various cards to play.
Netanyahu's opponent, Benny Gantz, will face long odds in forming a government, with many analysts predicting he too will fail to negotiate a unity coalition.
President Rivlin has vowed to do all he can to prevent yet another election, but the possibility remains that the stalemate could eventually trigger it.
Netanyahu has been battling the threat to his political survival on two fronts, also facing the possibility of corruption charges in the weeks ahead.
"A short time ago I informed the president that I was handing back my mandate to try to form a government," Netanyahu said in a video posted on his official Facebook page.
Netanyahu blamed Gantz for refusing to negotiate on his preferred terms, but Gantz has repeatedly said he cannot negotiate based on the terms Netanyahu wants.
President Rivlin has since announced that he intends to ask Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White alliance, to try to form a government.
