Netanyahu receives nod to form next government

JERUSALEM — Israel's president on Sunday assigned Benjamin Netanyahu a mandate to form the next government, following Nov 1 elections that put the former prime minister on track for a stable right-wing coalition.

"I give you the mandate to form a government," President Isaac Herzog told Netanyahu at a ceremony in Jerusalem.

Polls on Nov 1 gave Netanyahu and his allies a clear majority in parliament, sealing the veteran leader's return to power after a period of unprecedented political gridlock that forced five elections in less than four years.

Sixty-four representatives from Israel's 120-seat legislature recommended that Herzog appoint Netanyahu, a statement said on Friday.

Netanyahu will have 28 days to form a cabinet, with a 14-day extension available if required.

His right-wing Likud party and its allies, two ultraorthodox Jewish parties and the Religious Zionism bloc, won 64 seats in the Knesset, giving Netanyahu the majority to form a stable governing coalition, which may also be the most right-wing in Israeli history.

Netanyahu led Israel from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021 in a record tenure in office.

The 73-year-old remains on trial over corruption allegations, which he denies.

The presidency statement said 28 lawmakers had recommended Herzog tap Netanyahu's centrist rival, Yair Lapid.

Four parties, including Mansour Abbas' Islamist Raam, which made history by supporting Lapid's coalition government following elections last year, refused to recommend any candidate for the premiership.

Netanyahu is likely to have to juggle demands from his allies for policy commitments and cabinet posts, but is not expected to face insurmountable challenges during the coalition negotiations.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, co-leaders of the Religious Zionism bloc, have publicly demanded control of two key ministries — public security and defense.

Agencies Via Xinhua