Israeli president tasks Gantz with forming gov't

The Israeli president tasked on Wednesday Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, with forming a new government, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to do so.

Speaking in a broadcast ceremony, President Reuven Rivlin said Gantz will have 28 days to present a new governing coalition, urging the former military chief to establish a broad unity government and "show flexibility" in order to avoid third elections.

Israel's political system has been paralyzed since the closely-fought elections on Sept. 17, in which no party won enough votes to form a majority coalition in the 120-seat parliament.

The elections were the second time Israelis cast their votes in five months. Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government following the April elections, which led to the second elections in September.