Israeli elections: Netanyahu and Gantz take 'significant step' towards deal

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• Israel elections 2019

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Image captionBenjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz held two hours of talks

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent, Benny Gantz, have taken "a significant step" towards forming a unity government, Israel's president has said.

Reuven Rivlin was speaking after hosting a meeting for the two rivals.

No details of the talks have been made public. But a joint statement said chief negotiators for the two main parties would meet on Tuesday.

Last week's general election - the second this year - ended in deadlock.

In a bid to broker a solution, President Rivlin has recommended the new government includes both Mr Gantz's Blue and White Alliance, which won 33 seats, and Mr Netanyahu's Likud party, which won 31.