President Rivlin
Photo: Noam Moskowitz
Netanyahu to form next Israeli government
After garnering 67 voices in his favor, sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be tasked by President Rivlin with gathering factions to form Israel's 34th government; Yesh Atid to sit in opposition.
After attaining the support of 67 future Knesset members, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially won the right to form Israel's 34th government on Monday.
The incumbent prime minister received the support of 10 seats from Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu, pushing him above the threshold needed to form a coalition. The support of Yisrael Beytenu brought an additional six seats for a total of 67.
Earlier on the second day of the nomination process, Yesh Atid informed President Reuven Rivlin that it would not recommend any candidate as prime minister. "We have decided to sit in the opposition," MK Yael German told Rivlin.
"We will serve the people from the opposition," stressed the second Yesh Atid representative, MK Meir Cohen.
The number of MKs-to-be supporting Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog stands at 29.
President Rivlin (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)
The second round of consultations with the factions began early on Monday in Jerusalem; Kulanu, Yisrael Beytenu, and Meretz arrived at the President's Residence over the course of the day. Rivlin will likely officially nominate Prime Minister Netanyahu on Wednesday.
The Likud leader will then have until May 7 to form a coalition.
Several of the factions had appeared before the president on Sunday, with no unexpected surprises in their nominations. The Likud, Bayit Yehudi, Shas, and United Torah Judaism recommended Netanyahu – giving him 51 voices.
The Zionist Union expectedly threw its support behind its leader, Herzog, who thus won 24 voices,and was joined by Meretz' five seats. The Joint Arab List has decided to not nominate any candidate for prime minister.
Political sources also stressed on Sunday that a national unity government was out of the question. Both Likud and Zionist Union representatives signaled their intent to continue their rivalry in the Knesset, despite President Rivlin's attempt to reconcile between the parties.
Moran Azulay contributed to this report.
