JERUSALEM — Israeli coalition talks took on heightened urgency on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still short of even the slimmest majority 36 hours from the deadline to form a government.Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won 30 seats in the March 17 general election and has so far signed coalition agreements with two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and the centre-right Kulanu led by Likud defector Moshe Kahlon.That gives him the backing of 53 seats, still woefully short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset or parliament.If Mr Netanyahu is unable to form a coalition by midnight on Wednesday, President Reuven Rivlin must then assign another party leader to the task, with a 28-day deadline.If that fails, he must select a third person who has just 14 days to complete the task. And if that also ends in failure, Mr Rivlin would call a new election.Incumbent Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman dropped a bombshell on Monday when he announced that his six-seat Yisrael Beit...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.