Rivlin Presents Netanyahu with Mandate to Form Next Gov’t

By Staff, Agencies

The “Israeli” entity’s President Reuven Rivlin handed incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 14-day mandate to form a coalition, in what now looks certain to end the entity’s more than a year-long political crisis.

Netanyahu struck a deal last week with chairman of Blue and White Benny Gantz to form an emergency unity government for the next three years. According to the agreement, the two will share the premier role – each for a year and a half – Netanyahu taking the lead first.

The swear-in ceremony of the government is expected to take place next Wednesday.

Earlier, the Knesset submitted 72 lawmakers’ signatures to the president recommending Netanyahu for prime minister, the Likud and Blue and White parties said in a joint statement.

The process for forming the "Israeli" entity’s first elected coalition – after more than a year of a political stasis – was green lighted by the High Court of Justice, which rejected on Wednesday all petitions filed against the coalition deal.

After lengthy deliberations, an expanded panel of 11 judges ruled unanimously that there is no legal reason to interfere with the coalition agreement.

The one party which now seems less likely to join the coalition is the Likud’s right-wing ally, Yamina. The incumbent premier and interim Minister of War and Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett spoke on the phone on Thursday.

Bennett stipulated his party will join only from a “significant influencing” position. No conclusions were reached between the two, local media reported.