Benjamin Netanyahu promised to be the “prime minister for everyone” after Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 13 officially invited Netanyahu to form the new government.
Mr. Netanyahu (73) who has won the backing of 64 Members of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), has been assigned the task to form the next government, a statement from the Presidency said, days after the November 1 election, the fifth in four years, to break the political impasse that had paralysed the Jewish nation.
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“I decided to bestow upon you, MK Benjamin Netanyahu, the mandate to form a government,” President Herzog told Netanyahu during a meeting at the president’s residence.
Israel’s longest-serving leader, 73-year-old Netanyahu has won a record five elections to hold office five times—more than any other prime minister in the country’s 74-year history.
The Israeli President started discussions with leaders of the political parties immediately after formally receiving the results of the polls from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee last Wednesday.
Mr. Netanyahu will have 28 days to form the government. If an extension is required, the President has the legal authority to grant an extension of up to 14 additional days.
Besides Mr. Netanyahu's Likud party, he has received the backing of the right-wing bloc including, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, Jewish Power and Noam.
Mr. Netanyahu's ruling Likud party won 32 seats in the Knesset while outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid got 24 seats.
The biggest surprise of the polls after the final count was over is the far-right Religious Zionism party which won 14 seats becoming the third largest party.
Mr. Netanyahu's other likely coalition partners, Shas and United Torah Judaism won 11 and seven seats, respectively bringing the bloc's total count to 64.
The outcome of the election, ends an unprecedented period of political deadlock that began in 2019, when Mr. Netanyahu was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which he denies.
President Herzog said he was “not unaware” of Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, but that the court had ruled in the past that this was not a barrier to awarding Netanyahu the mandate.
“Israel requires a government that even if its composition does not reflect all worldviews and sections of the legislature, nevertheless knows to lead a process of connection and unification - between all parts of our people - and to conduct a responsible, cautious, open, frank, and attentive dialogue with the other branches of government,” Mr. Herzog said.
After receiving the mandate to form the new government and the sixth under his leadership, Netanyahu said that he will be a prime minister for “all of Israel’s citizens, without exception.” “There are many, many who welcome the election results – but there are also those who make outrageous prophecies and frighten the public. This is not the first time such things have been said. They said it about [Likud’s first leader Menachem] Begin, they said it about me too; it wasn’t true then and it’s not true today either,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
“I intend to be a prime minister for everyone – for those who elected me, and for those who did not elect me. It reflects what I believe in and what guides my actions,” he added.
