Netanyahu had so far managed to strike a deal only with the six-member centrist party HaTnuah to join his nascent coalition. (AFP)
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a two-week extension to form a new coalition government, after he failed to do so in an initial four-week period.
“I am giving you another two weeks, by law, to complete the task of forming the government,” Peres told Netanyahu during a televised statement at the presidential residence.
After his Likud-Beitenu list emerged as the largest party in the January election, winning 31 of the Knesset's 120 seats, Netanyahu was on February 2 tasked with forming a coalition.
Peres gave him the initial 28 days mandated by law for the task.
If the additional fortnight passes without Netanyahu managing to form a coalition government, Peres will then have to ask a different member of parliament to try to form a government.
The premier was reportedly leaning towards forging a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties as well as with Yesh Atid, which came second in the January 22 vote, and with the far-right Jewish Home, which came fourth.
Netanyahu had so far managed to strike a deal only with the six-member centrist party HaTnuah to join his nascent coalition.
