Netanyahu struggling to form new gov't, will demand extending mandate

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Israeli media said on Tuesday that Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu intends to ask Israeli President Isaac Herzog to extend the mandate to form the next government, due to difficulties in coalition negotiations.

"There are estimates by the Likud that they will not be able to form a government until the end of the current mandate, after 12 days," the i24news website stated.

"The expected request from the president, in the wake of the difficulties, is to replace the Speaker of the Knesset and to have to ratify the Deri Law and the Ben Gvir Law," the site said.

On the other hand, there is strong criticism because of United Torah Judaism's obstruction of collecting signatures to replace the Speaker of the Knesset, it added.

The site pointed out that "Netanyahu wants to appoint a permanent speaker for the Knesset next Monday, bypassing the possibility of choosing an interim president," noting that "the candidates on the agenda are Yoav Kisch, Ofir Akunis and Amir Ohana."

"Netanyahu will have to meet with them at the end of this week or Sunday so that he can announce a candidate next Monday," the site confirmed.

Read: Schism in 'Israel' grows over who will occupy Palestine 'better'

Two weeks ago, the Foreign Affairs reported that "Israel" entered into an unknown phase under the new government after Benjamin Netanyahu won the majority of seats, 64 out of 120.

The magazine reported that the new government would consist of eight parties (right, left, center, and even Islamist), two prime ministers, and, ultimately, irreconcilable ideological divisions.

It pointed out that the situation is inherently unstable, contrary to what Netanyahu and his allies hope, noting that "the exact contours of the new government are not final, but one thing is certain: Israel has entered uncharted territory. The only question is just how far to the right Netanyahu is willing to go."

"Israel's" war criminal and ex-Premier Benjamin Netanyahu secured a mandate on November 13 to form a new government, paving the way for the most right-wing administration in the Israeli occupation’s history.

The unprecedented period of extraordinary political deadlock in “Israel” resulted in five elections in less than four years, with polling on November 1 handing power over to Netanyahu and his far-right allies.