Israel and its embattled PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday looked headed for a third election within a year unless they can resolve a stalemate before midnight.

Conservative Likud leader Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz have repeatedly failed to build a governing majority in the parliament, Knesset. A last-ditch deal to avert a third general election in 12 months must be reached before an 11:59pm (2159 GMT) deadline. After this, President Reuven Rivlin must declare negotiations failed and call fresh polls.

Recent days had been expected to see frantic negotiations but instead saw all sides trading blame over the failing coalition talks. The new elections are likely to be held in March 2020.

Netanyahu and Gantz, a former army general who heads the centrist Blue and White party, had been discussing a potential unity government, but then disagreed on who should lead it. Last month, when Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges, Gantz called on him to step down, AFP said.

Source: RT