Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz vowed Thursday to form a broad unity government with him as prime minister after his party edged out incumbent leader Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud.
The Blue and White party secured 33 seats in the Knesset compared to Likud's 31.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
"Blue and White with me at the head has won the elections and we are the biggest party [in the Knesset]," Gantz told reporters on Thursday after Netanyahu called for the rivals to join together in a unity government.
"According to the election commission, we have received 33 seats and Netanyahu did not achieve the bloc that he hoped to achieve and for which he actually backed us into a second election."
Gantz said he will work to establish a "broad liberal unity government headed by myself. A government that will bring the wishes of the public to the people. We'll bring about a change in priorities and we will cure Israeli society."
"We will keep to our principles. There will be no shortcuts. The government formed by me must be effective and able to effectively address issues and have true governance."
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
