Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has been asked to form a government by Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, following elections last month.
This was the fourth election to be held in the space of two years.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, will have 28 days to cobble together a coalition which will give him enough support to govern. He can ask for a two-week extension, after which the task of forming a government will fall to others. If they are also unable to form a government it is possible that Israel could go to yet another election.
In last month’s election, Netanyahu’s Likud party won 30 seats in Israel’s 120-member Parliament, known as the Knesset. He has the support of three other parties, giving him the backing of 52 parliamentarians.
Netanyahu’s closest rival, Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party has the support of 45 Knesset members.
Four parties, including two which are supported primarily by Arab Israelis, have endorsed neither candidate.