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Government formation order to Benjamin Netanyahu

He gave an order to form a government to the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, after consulting with the parties, which managed to get elected to parliament after the March 23 elections, the fourth in less than two years.

“I made my decision based on the recommendations (of the parties), which pointed out that MP Benjamin Netanyahu is most likely to form a government. That is why I decided to ask him to form a government. It was not an easy decision for me, “he added.

Rivlin, a former Likud MP from Netanyahu’s party, made the remarks a day after the outgoing prime minister’s corruption case was reopened.

“I know the opinion of many that the president should not be in charge of this task to a candidate facing criminal charges“But according to the law and the decision of the courts, a prime minister can continue to perform his duties even if he faces charges,” the Israeli president said, according to APE-MPE, quoted by Reuters and AFP.

Prime Minister since 2009

Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving politician and has been prime minister since 2009. He now faces the difficult task of forming a coalition government as he has to find enough allies to gather the necessary 61 seats in the Knesset.

Under the law, Netanyahu has 28 days to announce his new government. Rivlin may extend them for another two weeks before selecting another candidate to lead the coalition government debate or ask parliament to elect someone.

In the March 23 election, Likud won 30 seats. Together with his traditional allies – the ultra-Orthodox and the far-right Religious Zionist party – he has filled 52 seats and now has to turn to other parties to join his government. A total of 13 parties share the 120 seats in the Knesset.

Netanyahu, 71, has proposed to the radical right-wing Naftali Bennett that he join his government.

He did not nominate either Netanyahu or Jair Lapid, whose party came in second in the election, to form a government, but has not officially announced his intentions. However, he has indicated that he will give a press conference this afternoon before the swearing in of the new deputies.

And Lapid of Yesh Atid (There is a Future) suggested to Bennett that they work together to form a coalition government with the prospect of rotating the presidency, with Bennett first. But he has not yet received an answer.

The other party that can determine the developments is the Islamist Raam. The head of Mansour Abbas also did not nominate a candidate to Rivlin and has stated that he will negotiate with anyone who will form a government.

The problem is that Religious Zionism, an ally of Netanyahu, categorically refuses to join a governing coalition with the Islamists.

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