Israeli president to host Netanyahu, rival Gantz

JERUSALEM

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin would recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister and leader of Likud party, to form a new government, reported Israeli media outlets on Wednesday.

Rivlin is heading to entrust Netanyahu to form a new government, according to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth and Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

He is scheduled to host Wednesday evening Netanyahu and his rival, the leader of Blue and White coalition Benny Gantz in a meeting to discuss the formation of a national unity government.

The meeting will be the second in three days.

According to final results, the Blue and White coalition won 33 seats in Knesset, ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud party with 32 seats.

The Knesset election was the second this year after Netanyahu failed to form a government after the April polls.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara