Israeli ministers say run jointly in elections, aim for gov't "without extremists"

JERUSALEM, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of two parties in Israel's outgoing coalition government announced on Sunday that they would run jointly in the upcoming national elections.

Benny Gantz, Israel's defense minister and leader of the centrist Blue and White party, and Gideon Sa'ar, justice minister and leader of the right-wing New Hope party, called in a joint statement for a centrist unity government with Gantz at the helm that would "say no to extremism."

"Today, we are laying the foundation of the next government," Gantz said.

Sa'ar said the new alliance was formed in a bid to break Israel's three-year political deadlock and establish "a broad national unity government not dependent upon the fringes."

Gantz was "the best-suited leader to stand at the helm of a unity government," he added.

The announcement marked the first shift in the political map since the parliament voted to dissolve itself on June 30 following the collapse of the coalition government, sending the country to its fifth elections in fewer than four years.

Gantz previously served as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and Sa'ar was a member of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party.

Both Gantz and Sa'ar were part of the outgoing coalition government composed of eight ideologically diverse parties united only by the will to oust Netanyahu, who is facing a criminal trial in three separate corruption cases.