2/2 © Reuters. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin observes during consultations with party representatives on who could form the next coalition government, at the president’s residence in Jerusalem 2/2
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got another chance in his political life on Tuesday, receiving a mandate from Israel’s president to form a new government after inconclusive elections. Israel’s oldest leader, in power consecutively since 2009, now faces the difficult task of breaking an unprecedented political deadlock and recruiting enough allies for a governing coalition. Under the law, Netanyahu will have 28 days to do so, with the possibility of a two-week extension before President Reuven Rivlin chooses another candidate or asks parliament to choose one. Israel’s election on March 23, the fourth in two years, ended without a right-wing religious bloc led by Netanyahu and a possible alliance of its opponents gaining a parliamentary majority. But in Rivlin’s consultations with political parties on Monday on granting the coalition-building mandate, Netanyahu received more endorsements than his rivals, leading to the president’s televised announcement giving him the go-ahead.
