Israeli president instructs Netanyahu to form Cabinet following elections

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on April 6 picked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try and form a new government after an unprecedented fourth election in under two years, Report informs referring to HaAretz.

Rivlin said no candidate has a real chance of forming a new government, but decided to task Netanyahu, amid his corruption trial, as he had received the most endorsements.

Netanyahu now has 28 days to try and form a coalition, and may also receive a two-week extension from the president once that time has alloted.

“No candidate has a realistic chance of forming a government that will have the confidence of the Knesset,” Rivlin said. If the law allowed, he would have given the decision back to the Knesset to resolve.