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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Benny Gantz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main opponent in the country’s general election, said Thursday he should be prime minister in a broad unity government.

Gantz spoke to journalists after Netanyahu called for them to join together in a unity government as results from Tuesday’s vote showed neither with an obvious path to form a majority coalition.

Gantz’s centrist Blue and White is nevertheless two seats ahead of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, according to results so far published by Israeli media.

Netanyahu, in a video message, said he preferred to form a right-wing coalition, but the results showed it was not possible.

The admission was a major development following Israel’s general election on Tuesday that has put Netanyahu’s status as the country’s longest-serving prime minister at risk.

“During the elections, I called for the establishment of a right-wing government,” Netanyahu said.

“But unfortunately the election results that this is not possible.”

He went on to call on Gantz to form a “broad unity government today.”

*AFP