• Tweeter

  • republish

Outgoing Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu alongside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on September 25, 2019 in Jerusalem. REUTERS / Ronen Zvulun

After just over three days of consultations and reflection, the Israeli president has decided: he has charged Benyamin Netanyahu to form the next government.

With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Guilhem Delteil

Benyamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz came together in last week's parliamentary elections. Both claimed the right to form the government. At the end of the day, the chairman has chosen the one who has a little more support in Parliament. But Benyamin Netanyahu's mission promises to be complicated.

On the legal plane, Reuven Rivlin could have waited until next Wednesday to appoint the one to whom he entrusts the task of forming the government. The wait seemed to be an option studied by the Israeli president as negotiations had begun between the two candidates for the formation of a unity government. But the announcement of his decision marks the failure of these negotiations, analysis Tal Schneider, political and diplomatic journalist to the daily Globes .

" The only thing the two parties managed to do was agree on wording for their press releases. And in the entourage of President Rivlin, they said they would not let the two formations use them to be able to blame the other party, "he says.

Netanyahu at the foot of the wall

Benyamin Netanyahu has gone one step further to stay in power. But his task remains very complicated, says Tal Schneider. " There is not a single deputy beyond his 55 supporters who wants to enter his government now. Political actors say to take a closer look at Avigdor Liberman. But I think one of the reasons Lieberman started these second elections is that he does not want to join a Netanyahu government. "

By appointing Benyamin Netanyahu just hours after receiving the official poll results, Reuven Rivlin puts him on the wall. The mandate is only valid for 28 days and Israel is entering a period of religious holidays that will slow the pace of negotiations.

Following President Rivlin's decision, Netanyahu proposed to his rival Benny Gantz to join him in a unity government. The former chief of staff refused, arguing that he can not enter a government led by a prime minister threatened with indictment.

► Also read: Legislative in Israel: Netanyahu and Gantz tied