Israeli party Joint List supports Gantz

(Patria) – The Joint List party, dominated by Arab parties, on Sunday supported the leader of the Blue and White alliance, Benny Gantz, to form a new government, agencies report.

Although a majority cannot yet be spoken of, Gantz's bloc is one seat ahead of Netanyahu's.

The vote of support from the Joint List, which is the third largest in the new parliament with 13 seats, was decisive in tipping the balance in Gantz's favor.

Gantz's center-left bloc now has 57 seats, compared to Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, which remains with 55 seats in parliament.

It is now up to the leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, Avigdor Lieberman, to give his vote of support to Gantz or Netanyahu.

The Euronews portal writes that Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began consultations with parties on Sunday regarding the selection of a leader to form a government.

Rivlin hinted at his goal – for the two largest parties to unite, 'in order to establish a system that can bring a stable government.'