Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin formally asked Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night to try and form Israel’s next Government, following the election on 17th September.
It comes after Mr Netanyahu and his main opponent, Benny Gantz, failed to agree a deal on a unity government. The election ended in a deadlock where Mr Gantz’s centrist Blue and White Alliance won 33 seats while Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party won 32 in the 120-seat Knesset.
Mr Netanyahu now has six weeks to try and forge a majority coalition in the Knesset. President Rivlin explained his decision by stating that he believes Benjamin Netanyahu has a “better chance of forming a government at the moment” as his right-wing block has a higher number of Knesset Members.
Analysts speculate that Benny Gantz took the decision to ensure Netanyahu goes first in trying to form a Government because he believes he will be in a stronger position if he is asked to form a Government after Netanyahu has tried and failed.
