NewsMiddle EastNetanyahu asks Israel's president for more time to form a government

Netanyahu asks Israel’s president for more time to form a government

Likud leader and prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog – Ilya Yefimovich/dpa

Israel’s prime minister-designate, Benjamin Netanyahu, has requested this Thursday night from the country’s president, Isaac Herzog, a two-week extension to finish forming a coalition government due to the slow process.

Netanyahu has been trying to finalize a coalition agreement with possible allies from far-right and religious parties before midnight this Sunday, December 11, when the 28-day period to form a government ends.

Thus, he has indicated in a letter to Herzog that his party, the Likud – which was the most voted in last month’s general elections, the fifth since 2019 – had signed agreements with all the factions that will make up the coalition.

However, parties such as Shas – the second largest party – or United Torah Judaism have only signed letters, rather than legal agreements, reports ‘The Jerusalem Post’.

On Thursday morning, Likud and Shas announced that they had reached an agreement on the posts and ministries for the next cabinet. Shas leader Arye Deri will serve as Interior Minister, Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. The formation of him will also receive the portfolio of Religious Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, according to the terms of the agreement.

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