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In Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu had received the mandate of President Reuven Rivlin after the legislative elections of 17 September to form a government. After about a month of negotiations, the outgoing Prime Minister failed to form a coalition and the president will now task Benny Gantz with the same task.
With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Guilhem Delteil
Legally, Benyamin Netanyahu still had two days to try to form a government. The mandate entrusted to him by the president was valid for 28 days until the evening of October 23. But on October 21, he decided to give up, still having no majority.
Because if Netanyahu has the support of right-wing and religious parties, it only gives him 55 votes out of 120 in the Knesset, Parliament. He therefore needs the support of six more MPs and for nearly four weeks he has failed to win over any elected official.
Benny Gantz's turn
Negotiations have been stalled for several days already. The outgoing prime minister met with his former defense minister, Avigdor Liberman, only once, in early October. And an offer sent last week to his main rival, Benny Gantz, was immediately rejected by the centrist leader.
On September 21, Benyamin Netanyahu said he had "done everything possible to bring Benny Gantz to the negotiating table ." " Unfortunately, he simply refused on many occasions, " he said. His strategy is clear: he wants to blame Benny Gantz for this failure, to prevent him from forming a government.
► See also: Political crisis in Israel: Netanyahu in search of strategy