Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s presidential mandate to assemble a coalition expires on Shabbos. The legal advisor to the president checked and confirmed that the prime minister may arrive on motzei Shabbos or Sunday, since if the expiration is on Shabbos, there is a provision for an additional day. The Knesset Basic Law however does not make this provision so it was decided to have Mr. Netanyahu come on motzei Shabbos, thereby eliminating any chilul Shabbos as well as a delay till Sunday which may spark a legal debate.

On motzei Shabbos 20 Adar 5773 Mr. Netanyahu will either announce his coalition (unlikely), ask for a 14-day extension (most likely), or inform the president he cannot assemble a coalition (highly unlikely).

Interestingly, the extension will expire on Shabbos as well, 5 Nissan, (March 16th), just four days before the scheduled arrival of US President Barak Obama. The daily Yediot Achronot reports that if a new coalition has not been assembled by March 20th, the presidential visit will not take place.

Pressure on the prime minister is mounting as he never expected to become deadlocked, assured he would announce his cabinet at the end of the first 28-day presidential mandate. Things being what they are, it appears this will not occur before Shabbos, but it is still possible, albeit simply unlikely.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)