A skeptical President invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to form a new government after another inconclusive election deepened political stalemate in Israel.
The country’s longest-serving leader, in power consecutively since 2009, now faces the tough challenge of enlisting enough allies for a governing coalition.
Under the law, Netanyahu will have 28 days to do so, with the possibility of a two-week extension before President Reuven Rivlin picks another candidate or asks parliament to choose one. The continued deadlock could ultimately result in a new election.
Announcing on television his choice of Netanyahu, Rivlin cast doubt on his prospects for success and on whether any other prospective candidate could complete the task.
