Soroka university medical center, Medical center in Beersheba, Israel

Netanyahu will have up to six weeks, beginning Thursday, to form a majority coalition, Xinhua news agency reported.He is facing struggles as his right-wing Likud faction won 32 seats in last Tuesday's voting, far cry from the needed 61 seats to form a majority coalition in the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset.President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday said in broadcast remarks that he tapped Netanyahu with the task of forming the country's 36th government although Benny Gantz and his centrist Blue and White party won a narrow 33-32-seat victory over Netanyahu's Likud.Rivlin said his decision followed a two-day official consultations process, during which 55 lawmakers said they supported Netanyahu as the next prime minister and agreed to join a governing coalition under his leadership.Gantz had 54 lawmakers recommending him but 10 of them, lawmakers with the Arab-Jewish Joint List, said they will not join a possible governing coalition under Gantz.Netanyahu said he accepted the appointment and called for a "wide unity government" under his leadership. Gantz rejected the call.Gantz, a former military chief, said he is "committed" to the idea of unity but will not join forces with a leader who might face serious corruption charges, referring to Netanyahu's involvement in several corruption cases. The attorney-general has said he intends to indict Netanyahu, pending a hearing.Gantz said that during two days of talks on a possible unity government, brokered by President Reuven Rivlin, the Likud representatives said that any future government should include the pro-settler party of Yemina and two ultra-Orthodox parties."This composition would not allow a wide government under my leadership that will work for the benefit of the entire citizens of Israel," Gantz said.Rivlin implored all of the heads of the parties to show "responsibility" and strive for a unity government, saying it was the only solution to break the political deadlock. "The people do not want a third election," he said.The elections on September 17 were the second time Israelis cast their ballots in five months.After Netanyahu had won a narrow victory over Gantz's Blue and White in the April's election, he failed to form a governing coalition. Instead of risking Rivlin handing Gantz the chance to form a government, Netanyahu called for a snap election.Coalition-building in Israel usually drags on as smaller parties demand cabinet seats and financial and legislative changes to fulfill the promises they gave to their voters during the election campaign.( With inputs from IANS )

Soroka University Medical CenterFOLLOW

Soroka university medical center, Latest News

Pop star Demi Lovato has said sorry to fans for accepting a free trip to Israel, where she was baptised in the Jordan river. ...

Israeli lawmakers were sworn into the new parliament, or Knesset, without a new government formed, after tight results in the country's do-over elections caused a political deadlock. ...

Demi Lovato seems to be having a peaceful time in Israel, revealing that she has never felt "such a sense of spirituality or connection to God". ...

Singer Demi Lovato says her spiritual trip to Israel helped her find a connection with God. ...

Israeli Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit opened on Wednesday a series of pre-indictment hearings to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of possible criminal indictments over corruption cases, according to Department of Justice. ...

A two-day apple festival, orgsed with an objective to introduce varieties and boost tourism, drew huge crowds and successfully concluded on Saturday. ...

Islamic Hamas movement announced that it is ready to join general and comprehensive elections in the Palestinian territories. ...

Israel's president requested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble the next government, tasking the decade-long leader with solving a political stalemate following inconclusive elections. ...