Likud says Netanyahu has returned mandate to form government, lashes out at Bennett

5 May 2021, 12:15 am

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After Prime Minister Netanyahu’s deadline to form a government expires, the premier’s Likud party says he has formally returned the mandate to form a government to President Reuven Rivlin, after failing to put together a ruling majority following last month’s elections.

Likud lashes out at Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, blaming him for Netanyahu’s inability to secure a right-wing majority after four elections since April 2019.

“Due to Bennett’s refusal to commit to a right-wing government, which definitely would have led to the formation of a government with the addition of other Knesset members, Prime Minister Netanyahu returned the mandate to the president,” Likud says in a statement.