Israeli President grants Netanyahu 10-day extension to form government

Prime Minister-designate had requested a full two-week grace period

Benjamin Netanyahu was asked to try to form the next Israeli government after his centre-right nationalist party won the largest share of seats in elections on November 1. Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu will have until December 21 to form a new government after receiving an extension of about 10 days on Friday.

Mr Netanyahu was asked to try to form the next Israeli government after his centre-right nationalist party won the largest share of seats in the country’s elections on November 1.

While he has already got the backing of other parties in parliament in order to reach the threshold to govern, he has yet to finalise his coalition.

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Sunday was the original deadline to form the government or another candidate may have been asked to try to form a coalition. Failing that, Israelis would have been sent back to the polls yet again to break the deadlock.

While Mr Netanyahu sought the maximum two-week extension allowed by law, President Isaac Herzog, whose job as head of state is largely ceremonial, gave him an extra 10 days.

Coalition talks have dragged on longer than expected since Mr Netanyahu from the outset had support from right-wing and religious parties that control 64 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

A major sticking point has been who gets which ministerial post and the distribution of power between them, Israeli media has reported.

The centrist opposition had urged Mr Herzog not to grant an extension, accusing Mr Netanyahu of buying time to pass divisive legislation.

One such bill would enable a senior partner of Mr Netanyahu to serve in the cabinet despite a criminal record.

On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu reached a coalition deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party led by longtime Likud ally Aryeh Deri, who was convicted of tax offences as part of a plea deal and placed on probation.

Under the latest deal, the Shas party will hold senior posts in ministries for religious services, social affairs, education and interior affairs.

Deri will serve half a term as the minister of health and interior affairs, before becoming finance minister. He will also hold the post of deputy prime minister.

The legal manoeuvre has drawn criticism that it undermines Israel’s democratic institutions. It “makes a mockery of this criminal procedure,” said Amir Fuchs, senior researcher at the Israeli Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.

A prolonged political stalemate has led to five elections in less than four years. An outgoing caretaker government remains in office.

“These are complex days for Israeli society when disputes over fundamental issues threaten to tear apart and ignite violence and hatred,” Mr Herzog said in a letter to Mr Netanyahu that his office made public.

He called for the formation of a government that represents the entire country and for a coalition that maintains a respectful dialogue between the branches of government.