Israel: Netanyahu received mandate to form government

(Patria) – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has granted the mandate to form a government to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose recently ruling Likud party won slightly less support than the winning Blue and White alliance of Benny Gantz.

Although his selection is surprising given Likud's political failure, it does not mean Netanyahu will head the Israeli government.

Netanyahu faces the difficult task of forming a majority government within the next 6 weeks. One of the biggest obstacles is the division within the Knesset (parliament), as indicated by the election results.

To succeed, Netanyahu will need to secure the support of at least 61 out of 120 parliament members. If he fails, President Rivlin can assign the task of forming a government to someone else, most likely opposition leader Benny Gantz.  

The repeated scenario from May of this year, with similar election results, fuels speculation about possible third elections if the government formation fails again.

President Rivlin's attempt to persuade Netanyahu and Gantz's rivals to overcome their differences and form a unified national government has failed.

Netanyahu's biggest obstacle to forming a government is Avigdor Lieberman with 8 seats in parliament, who does not want to be in a coalition with right-wing and religious parties, but is closer to the idea of a unified national government.

Netanyahu faces a difficult week as he must appear for a final hearing regarding alleged involvement in corruption. If he retains the prime minister's mandate, he will not have to resign even if indicted.