Netanyahu again fails to form new Israeli government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again failed to form a government by the midnight deadline, putting his political career in jeopardy and prolonging the country's political stalemate that has seen voters return to the polls four times in less than two years.The mandate given by President Reuven Rivlin to Netanyahu to form a government expired on Tuesday at midnight with no breakthrough in coalition talks.It is for the third time in two years that Netanyahu, 71, has failed to form a government.He had been trying for the past 28 days to build a coalition after the fourth inconclusive general election in two years.

He had been trying for the past 28 days to build a coalition after the fourth inconclusive general election in two years.Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party is by far the largest on Israel's fractured political scene. Likud had won 30 seats in the general election in March, but Netanyahu could not muster enough coalition partners to command a majority of at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, the Israeli parliament.Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader, having led five governments since 1996. The last, which saw him share power with the then-main Opposition party to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic, collapsed in December, triggering the latest elections.

The onus is now on the President to decide which of Israel's other political leaders he might entrust with the task of trying to form a governing coalition. A long period of political stalemate in Israel has been complicated by Netanyahu's ongoing trial for corruption, a charge he denies.His rivals argue he should not remain in office while facing criminal charges.President Rivlin could now formally ask another political leader to try to assemble a coalition. But this could risk the country going to the polls once again. Until any new government is agreed and sworn into office, Netanyahu remains Israel's Prime Minister.