Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Netanyahu Fails to Form Government Before Deadline

VOA News

   Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said he would contact parties in the
   Knesset on Wednesday about the process of forming a government
   following the expiration of a 28-day period in which Prime Minister
   Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to assemble a ruling coalition.

   Netanyahu's failure sent the process back to Rivlin, who is expected in
   the coming days to give one of Netanyahu's opponents a chance to form a
   government.

   Among the likely candidates areYair Lapid, whose centrist Yesh
   Atidparty finished second behind Netanyahu's right-wing Likudparty in
   Marchelections, andNaftali Bennett, head of the small religious,
   nationalist Yamina party.

   Rivlin also has the option of asking parliament to select one of its
   own members as prime minister.

   The process of seeking a coalition government was necessitated by the
   failure of any party to achieve a majority in 120-member Knesset in the
   March 23 vote, which was Israel's fourth election in less than two
   years.

   Netanyahu held talks witha number ofrivals and madeunprecedented
   overtures to the leader of a small Islamist Arab partyduring his failed
   attempt to assemble a majority.

   Right-wing and Jewish religious parties, as well as traditional
   left-wing and centrist parties, have courted parties representing
   Israel's estimated 20% Arab minority, potentially empowering them to
   influence a Cabinet for the first time in decades.

   The 71-year-old Netanyahu has been prime minister since 2009 after
   holding the same office for three years in the 1990s. He has been
   fighting to remain in office through two years of political deadlock
   due to the inconclusive elections.

   He is on trial facing criminal corruption charges and has denied any
   wrongdoing.

.