JERUSALEM – Israel was bracing for more political turmoil Monday as talks between the country's rival political leaders faltered ahead of a midnight deadline to form a coalition government.
Israel is in the throes of a political crisis that has left the country with a caretaker government and paralyzed legislative work since the first round of stalemated elections took place last year.
Last-minute disagreements between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, former army chief Benny Gantz, appeared set to block yet again a coalition agreement following the elections in March — the third ballot in under a year to end without a clear winner.