Netanyahu Fails To Form Government For Third Time

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government for the third time in two years, as his mandate from President Reuven Rivlin ended on Tuesday night. Netanyahu had until midnight to ask Rivlin for an extension.

Instead he released a statement three minutes before the deadline blaming Yamina leader Naftali Bennett.

“Due to Bennett’s refusal to promise to only form a government with the Right, which would have definitely led to the formation of a government with additional MKs joining, the prime minister has returned the mandate to the president,” the statement said.

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BREAKING: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has failed to form a new coalition government by a midnight deadline, putting his political future in question. https://t.co/0n5eXwPsGS

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 4, 2021

Why it matters: This is the third time in the last two years Netanyahu had the mandate but failed to form a coalition. But this time he faces his biggest risk of losing power since he became Prime Minister in 2009 https://t.co/MJ5C6RVQC7

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 4, 2021

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel failed to form a new government, putting his political future in jeopardy and prolonging a political deadlock. https://t.co/dsjB0cuzVK

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 4, 2021