Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday approached Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government, giving the incumbent the chance to hold on to power despite his criminal trial and the collapse of his short-lived coalition.
“I have come to a decision based on the numbers of recommendations, which indicates that Benjamin Netanyahu has a slightly higher chance of forming a government,” Mr Rivlin said in a televised announcement.
“Accordingly, I have decided to entrust him with the task of doing so,” he said, after meeting all 13 parties in parliament to seek their recommendations for the premiership.
The announcement came two weeks after Israel's latest election, its fourth in two years, which failed to produce a clear winner. It also followed Mr Netanyahu's appearance in court on corruption charges on Monday.
Israel’s political parties are largely divided over whether they support or oppose Mr Netanyahu, with neither side able to clinch the necessary 61-seat parliamentary majority to form a government.
The prime minister's Likud picked up 30 seats to become the largest party, securing a bloc of 52 legislators with the backing of right-wing and Orthodox Jewish parties.
Former finance minister Yair Lapid, his chief opponent whose Yesh Atid party won 17 seats, fell behind with 45 nominations in consultations with the president.
Mr Netanyahu has up to six weeks to cobble together a coalition, although Mr Rivlin said he would have preferred to give the task directly to parliament if the law allowed.
“The results of the consultations, that were open to all, lead me to believe that no candidate has a realistic chance of forming a government that will have the confidence of the Knesset,” he said, referring to Israel’s parliament.
The president’s pessimism reflects the incessant political deadlock, exacerbated by the collapse in December of Mr Netanyahu’s fragile coalition with his former rival, Benny Gantz.
The break-up sent the electorate back to the polls but failed to produce a clear outcome, with both Mr Netanyahu and his opponents grappling to secure a governable majority.
Mr Netanyahu’s bloc could be boosted by the right-wing Yamina party, which nominated its leader Naftali Bennett for the premiership, but its seven seats would still leave the incumbent short.
Mansour Abbas led his Islamist Ra’am party to four seats and has been seen as a possible kingmaker, having not recommended any candidate, though allies of Mr Netanyahu have refused to govern alongside him.
In giving the mandate to Mr Netanyahu, the president acknowledged criticism for approaching a candidate who is on trial for corruption.
“According to the law and the decision of the courts, a prime minister can continue in his role even when he is facing charges,” Mr Rivlin said.
“Because of that, I believed that the president should avoid deciding based on that consideration out of a sense of responsibility for the institution of the presidency and the trust in which it is held by all parts of the people,” he added.
Mr Netanyahu is facing several corruption charges in three separate cases in which he allegedly sought positive media coverage and received expensive gifts while in office. He denies the charges.
If he fails to form a government within six weeks, the mandate can fall to another candidate and ultimately the parliamentary floor.
A fifth round of elections will be called if no coalition is formed by early July.
