Page 10 - AT

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 24 sepTember 2019
Israeli election rivals meet as deadlock still looms

By JOSEF FEDERMAN at the helm of a unity gov-
Associated Press ernment and has signed a
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s deal with his smaller allies,
president summoned the including ultra-Orthodox
leaders of the country’s parties, to negotiate as a
two largest political parties “bloc.”
to his official residence late Lieberman, a former ally of
Monday, hoping to break Netanyahu’s, refuses to sit
a political deadlock that in a coalition with the ultra-
threatens to push the na- Orthodox parties. In April,
tion into months of limbo the Soviet-born politician
and potentially force a refused to join Netanyahu’s
third election in less than a coalition following elec-
year. tions, triggered the Sept.
Neither Prime Minister Ben- 17 repeat vote. Lieberman
jamin Netanyahu nor his objected to what he said
challenger, former military was excessive influence by
chief Benny Gantz, com- the religious parties, leav-
mented as President Re- ing Netanyahu without a
uven Rivlin brought them majority and forcing him to
together for a photo at the call the new election.
beginning of the meeting. Israeli media said no break-
The two men looked tense throughs were expected at
and uncomfortable as Riv- Israeli President Reuven Rivlin speaks during a consultation meeting with members of the Likud Monday’s meeting.
lin forced a smile. party, in Jerusalem, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. Rivlin is expected by
Rivlin’s office announced Associated Press Wednesday to designate
late Monday that he had the past decade, nor Gantz’s centrist Blue and Both Netanyahu and Gantz either Gantz or Netanyahu
left the room, and the two Gantz able to put together White came in first, with have expressed support for with the seemingly impossi-
rivals were meeting on their a coalition with smaller al- 33 seats, trailed by Netan- a unity deal between their ble task of trying to cobble
own. He stressed to them lied political parties. That yahu’s Likud, with 31. With parties. But there are deep, together a government.
that the public “came out has greatly complicated smaller allied parties, a to- seemingly unbridgeable His choice will have up to
and voted, and now it is Rivlin’s task. A unity deal tal of 55 lawmakers have differences between them. six weeks to reach a deal
your turn.” between the large parties thrown their support behind Gantz has said he will not with coalition partners. If he
The Israeli president is re- is seen as perhaps the only Netanyahu, and 54 in favor partner with Likud as long fails, Rivlin can choose an-
sponsible for choosing a way out of the impasse. of Gantz, leaving both men as Netanyahu is at the other candidate for prime
candidate for prime minis- “People expect you to find short of the required 61- helm, citing the prime min- minister. If those efforts
ter after national elections. a solution and to prevent seat majority. ister’s legal problems. Is- fail, the country could be
That task is usually a for- further elections, even if it Avigdor Lieberman, lead- rael’s attorney general has forced into a third election.
mality, given to the leader comes at a personal and er of the ultranationalist recommended charging During Rivlin’s consultations,
who has the best chance even ideological cost. This Yisrael Beitenu party, has Netanyahu with a series of most parties made their ex-
of forming a stable major- is not the time to exclude emerged as the key power corruption-related charges pected recommendations:
ity coalition in the 120-seat people.” Rivlin office said broker. Lieberman, who and is expected to make Nationalist and religious
parliament. he told the two leaders. controls eight seats, has a final decision following a parties lined up behind Ne-
But last week’s election Rivlin has spent the past refused to endorse either hearing with the prime min- tanyahu’s Likud, while two
ended in deadlock, with two days meeting with candidate. He’s demand- ister early next month. more centrist parties sided
neither Netanyahu, who leaders of all of the parties ed they join him in a broad, Netanyahu, meanwhile, with Gantz despite his mili-
has ruled the country for elected to parliament. secular unity government. believes he should remain tary background.q

UN: Syria constitution committee set, will meet within weeks

By ALBERT AJI than eight-year-long con- “The constitutional com-
JENNIFER PELTZ flict, which has killed over mittee’s launch and work
Associated Press 400,000 people. must be accompanied by
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A The constitutional com- concrete actions to build
long-awaited Syrian con- mittee has been planned trust and confidence,”
stitutional committee is set since a Russian-hosted Syr- Guterres said in a state-
to convene in the com- ian peace conference in ment. His announcement
ing weeks, U.N. Secretary- January 2018, but it has came after Syria’s state
General Antonio Guterres taken nearly 20 months news agency SANA re-
said Monday. for the sides to agree on ported earlier Monday
Guterres told reporters at the membership — par- that Foreign Minister Walid
U.N. headquarters that ticularly on a list of experts, al-Moallem was meeting
the Syrian government independents, tribal lead- with U.N. special envoy
and opposition finalized ers and women to make Geir Pedersen in Damas-
an agreement to create In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, up part of the group. The cus. Al-Moallem said the
the 150-member commit- the U.N.’s special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, left, meets U.N. was authorized to put discussion focused on the
tee. It is tasked with draft- with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, in Damascus, together the list but the committee’s setup and
ing a new constitution for Syria, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. choices faced objections, guarantees that it be free
the civil-war-torn nation. Associated Press mainly from the Syrian “from any foreign inter-
The committee is seen an important step toward po- tentially ending the more government. vention.” q