Rivlin to announce choice to form government tomorrow

• Published date: 05 April 2021
• Author: Arutz Sheva Staff
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

Currently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has 52 recommenders (Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Religious Zionism), Lapid 45 (Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Labor, Yisrael Beytenu and Meretz) and Yamina's Naftali Bennett seven.

In a dramatic end to the evening, New Hope chairman Gideon Sa'ar did not recommend any candidate for the formation of a government. MK Yifat Shasha Biton (New Hope) told Rivlin: "We call on you to summon Lapid and Bennett and help them reach an agreement." Rivlin replied that he could not intervene. The Joint List and UAL likewise refused to recommend any of the candidates.

Ministers Ofir Akunis, Tzachi Hanegbi and Amir Ohana from the Likud were the first to be received by the President, and presented to him their recommendation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the government.

In response to the recommendation, Rivlin told Likud representatives that he was taking more than the number of representations into account when making his decision.

Interior Security Minister Ohana said in response to the president: "We need to look at the law. I represent the court systems, truth, and justice."

Rivlin replied to Ohana, "I can not accept this kind of independent declaration."

Rivlin asked Likud representatives if they have an alternative candidate to form the government in case ethical considerations prevent him from imposing the mandate on Netanyahu.

Minister Akunis replied, "The answer is no. We do not offer an alternative. We democratically and freely elected Netanyahu to head the Likud in 2019 and therefore he is our candidate for the position."

The second delegation to meet Rivlin was the Yesh Atid, whose members recommended that the government train be assigned to the party's chairman, Yair Lapid.

MK Orna Barbibai, No. 2...