(Thomas Reuters Foundation)
* Alone, rivals each lack parliamentary majority
* Incumbent PM has pre-trial hearing next month (Adds statement after Netanyahu-Gantz meeting)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz launched negotiations on Monday over a proposed Israeli unity government and a key politician said the focus was on who would lead it first under a rotation deal.
After failing to secure a clear victory in the second election in six months, Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier, seems to reckon he can stay in power only by sharing it.
Going solo, neither he nor ex-general Gantz have enough support from respective allies for a majority in the 120-member parliament.
Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White Party, has been publicly resistant to the idea of allying with Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, citing looming corruption charges against the incumbent.
President Reuven Rivlin, tasked with picking a candidate best-placed to try to form the next governing coalition, has spoken in favour of unity and, on Monday, summoned Netanyahu and Gantz for closed-door talks. Read more