Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the Likud faction for its first meeting Tuesday evening after the inauguration of the 24th Knesset. At the beginning of the meeting he referred to his acceptance of the mandate to form the next government.
“Today, the President of the State entrusted me with the task of forming the government thanks to more than a million Likud voters who established us as the largest party against another party,” Netanyahu noted at the beginning of the meeting.
The Prime Minister called on the various Knesset factions to allow the formation of a government, and to stop the personal boycotts against him which has contributed to the paralysis of the political system.
“I will establish a strong government, not a government of paralysis but a government of action,” he said, adding: “In order to form a government, the personal boycotts must be stopped.”
Netanyahu went on to enumerate the tasks facing the government he intends to establish, including bringing in tens of millions of vaccines, achieving additional peace agreements, promoting the economy, combating the Iranian threat, and preventing a return to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Netanyahu Given Mandate to Form a Government Over the Next 28 Days
As expected, President Reuven Rivlin gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the mandate to form a government on Tuesday; Netanyahu will have 28 days to meet the deadline.
On Tuesday morning, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin assigned the mandate to form a government to the candidate who currently has the best chances of doing so – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The PM received the majority of recommendations from MKs (Members of the Knesset) as of Monday, which ultimately led to the decision to give him the mandate.
Israel’s political deadlock over the last couple of years has created a lot of tension. Even though one candidate now has the opportunity to form a government again, President Rivlin voiced his lack of confidence in any candidate successfully completing that task. This scenario is what has led to four elections in less than two years.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post, Rivlin stated on Tuesday, “I am under the impression that none of the candidates has a chance to form a coalition.” Such a statement stems from the fact that while Netanyahu may have the most recommendations from the Knesset, his opponents are using his trial against him. Furthermore, at least some of the critical MKs that the PM will need to form a government have said they will not give their approval.
Netanyahu has the next 28 days to reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government.
