It would appear, as expected, that on motzei Shabbos President Shimon Peres will give Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the mandate to form a new government. If successful is assembling a coalition, Mr. Netanyahu will begin his third term in office.

Yesh Atid, Yahadut Hatorah, Bayit HaYehudi, Shas all recommended Netanyahu as opposed to The Movement, Labor, Meretz and the Arab parties, that made no recommendation.

In line with the president’s promise to Yahadut Hatorah MKs, Mr. Peres will hold off officially giving the mandate until after Shabbos towards preventing the chilul Shabbos that would likely result if he made his announcement on erev Shabbos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)