Benjamin Netanyahu assigned a mandate to form next government in Israel
Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu was officially tasked on Sunday with forming the upcoming government, according to Israeli media. Netanyahu received the mandate to form the government after meeting with President Isaac Herzog, who completed three days of consultations with leaders of political parties.
- World
- AFP
- Published Date: 02:30 | 13 November 2022
- Modified Date: 02:35 | 13 November 2022
Israel's president on Sunday assigned Benjamin Netanyahu a mandate to form the next government, following November 1 elections that put the ex-premier on track for a stable right-wing coalition.
President Isaac Herzog told Netanyahu -- Israel's longest-serving premier until he was ousted last year -- at a ceremony in Jerusalem that he had tasked him with forming a government.
Herzog said that, following his consultations with party leaders, "the result was clear, and the task of forming a government must be assigned to Benjamin Netanyahu".
Herzog noted Netanyahu's ongoing trial over corruption allegations, which the right-wing veteran denies.
"I am not oblivious, of course, to the fact that there are ongoing legal proceedings against Mr Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, and I do not trivialise this at all," Herzog said.
But he noted that recent precedent made clear Netanyahu could serve as prime minister while contesting the allegations.
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