Leaders of the center-left Blue and White party met Wednesday to discuss plans to form a new coalition government, just hours before President Reuven Rivlin formally grants the mandate to create a new government to Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz.

The four leaders – Benny Gantz, Gabi Ashkenazi, Yair Lapid, and Moshe Yaalon – sat down Wednesday afternoon to discuss their party’s position in the deadlocked Knesset, and potential paths towards reaching a breakthrough which could enable them to form a new government.

“Just a few hours before we receive the mandate, we are preparing and determined to form a responsible government that is accountable to the public and the mission which we have taken on ourselves, a government for the people of Israel,” said Yaalon.

At 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Gantz will be formally tapped by President Rivlin to form the next government.

The Blue and White chief will be given 28 days to cobble together a coalition government, which will require the support of at least 61 MKs in the 120-member Knesset.

While Blue and White won the most seats in the September election – 33, to the Likud’s 32 – the Likud won the backing of 55 MKs, all from right-wing and religious parties – and was thus handed the mandate first to form a new government.

After Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu failed to win support from Blue and White for a unity government, he returned the mandate to Rivlin Monday night.