ISRAEL PREZ ASKS OPPN LEADER TO FORM GOVT AS NETANYAHU FAILS IN COALITION BID

Israel’s president on Wednesday tapped opposition leader Yair Lapid to form a new government - a step that could lead to the end of the lengthy rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Reuven Rivlin announced his decision on live TV a day after Netanyahu failed to cobble together a governing coalition by a midnight deadline. Rivlin spent the day consulting with all of the parties elected to Israel’s parliament and announced on Wednesday that he believes Lapid has the best chance of forming a coalition. Rivlin said that based on the recommendations, “it is clear that Knesset member Yair Lapid has a chance to form a government that will earn the confidence of the Knesset, even if the difficulties are many”.

Lapid, whose late father was a Cabinet minister and who himself is a journalist and politician, now has four weeks to reach a deal with potential partners. Lapid said he would move quickly to form a broad-based unity government “as soon as possible”.