Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Friday that he will assign the task to form a new government to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following consultations with leaders of all the political parties that have been elected to Parliament in November 1 elections, a move likely to end the political impasse in the country.
The announcement was made after Herzog held discussions with the political parties over three days, starting Wednesday, when he received the final poll results from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee.
"In sum, 64 members of Knesset recommended to the President that he assign the task of forming a government to Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu MK (Member of Knesset). Twenty-eight MKs recommended Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid MK, and four factions, representing 28 members of Knesset, decided to abstain from making any recommendation," a statement from the Presidency said.
"Following the consultations, Office of the President Director-General Eyal Shviki phoned Benjamin Netanyahu MK's chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, and requested to invite Benjamin Netanyahu MK to receive from the President the role of forming a government on Sunday (13 November 2022)," it added.
Netanyahu will have to form the government in 28 days from the day he is handed over the mandate by the President. If an extension is required, the President has the legal authority to grant an extension of up to fourteen additional days.
Besides Netanyahu's Likud party, he received the backing of the right-wing bloc including Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, Jewish Power and Noam.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid's name was recommended by his Yesh Atid party and the Labour party.
National Unity, Yisrael Beitenu, United Arab List (Ra'am) and Hadash-Ta'al decided not to recommend any name to be tasked with the responsibility.
