Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received extra time on Monday to form a new government, Israel’s president announced, granting the right-wing leader a two-week extension until May 29, reports Reuters.
In office for a decade, Netanyahu won a record fifth term in an April 9 parliamentary election, largely seen as an effective referendum on his leadership since he faces possible indictment in three corruption cases. He denies the charges.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received more time to put together a new coalition government, after the initial 28 days granted to him following last month’s elections expired.https://t.co/yCYtz26uZa
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 13, 2019
Netanyahu is negotiating terms with nearly all the right-wing, nationalist and religious parties that form his outgoing government.
No party in Israel has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, making coalition governments the norm with political negotiations often dragging on. One issue in the current talks is the Gaza Strip.
Lieberman has a long list of demands to join Netanyahu’s coalition government, but if he gets what he wants it appears he’s happy to support laws to override the High Court, immunize Bibi from corruption charges, & maybe more. https://t.co/flHpDDXecM
— Tamara Cofman Wittes (@tcwittes) May 13, 2019
Former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party is negotiating with Netanyahu, said on Monday after the extension was announced that talks would continue, but strategy over the Gaza Strip remained a sticking point.
#Netanyahu will continue #Israel's pursuit of #genocide in #Gaza because it's the one thing that will unify his new coalition — a compelling reason to support #BDS to #SaveGaza & #FreePalestine from #ApartheidIsrael~!https://t.co/TG2jMJ5b4s
— Pauline Park (@paulinepark) May 13, 2019
Accusing Netanyahu of appeasing Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers by allowing Qatari donations into the enclave, Lieberman said in public remarks:
“On the matter of the Strip, I think that our stance is very clear and to my regret the rifts there are still very wide.”
'Disloyal Palestinians should have their heads chopped off with an axe.’ Having now resigned over the Gaza ceasefire agreement, here are 3 controversial things Israeli "Defense" Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said pic.twitter.com/DKOBnEBiQb
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 16, 2018
Lieberman, whose party has five seats in parliament, said he wanted to be reappointed defense chief. In accordance with Israeli law, Netanyahu received an initial 28-day period to form a government, with a 14-day extension possible and traditionally granted. The initial period ends on Wednesday.
(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)
