President Reuven Rivlin on Monday, April 15, 2019, began meeting with faction representatives in the process of assigning the presidential mandate to form the next government coalition. He met with Minister Yariv Levin, Minister Miri Regev and MK David Bitan, representing Likud, and they recommended that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu form the next government.

After the meeting, Levin was asked by reporters to respond to the reports he is likely to be tapped to serve as justice minister. He responded that there will be a negotiating team which will be selected by PM Netanyahu, and at present, it was too early in the process to discuss ministerial appointments. He concluded his remarks stating Likud is heading to a Likud-led coalition with the inclusion of the chareidi parties, his response to probes of a possible national unity coalition government.

The next team to meet with the president was from Blue and White, represented by seven persons including Gabi Ashkenazi, Orna Barvibai, and Avi Nissankoren.

The president commented, “There were stormy elections, which on many occasions nipped many of the citizens of the State of Israel. We have not seen such a close struggle between two parties.”

The team recommended Benny Gantz for prime minister. “We are proud of our achievement,” they said, adding that over 1.1 million voters agree.

The president spoke of “mending hearts” and the possibility of a coalition government.

Shas was represented by Minister Yitzchak Vaknin, Deputy Minister Itzik Cohen, Deputy Minister Meshulam Nahari, MK Yaakov Margi and others. They of course recommended the mandate be given to Netanyahu. They spoke of how the last government worked to maintain the religious status quo and how they cannot play a role in the establishment of a government that would compromise Kodshei Yisrael.

Yahadut Hatorah explained that a short time before the meeting, they were informed, albeit not officially, that they received the eighth seat. They recommended Netanyahu for prime minister, explaining they worked side-by-side in the last government. They added that during the campaign, they told loyalists they were going to recommend Netanyahu for the mandate.

Hadash-Ta’al was the last for the day, during which MK Ayman Odeh explained they were no going to recommend anyone for the mandate. He explained, “If we ended the previous elections with ‘Arabs flocking to the polls,’ the latest system was accompanied by unprecedented incitement by Netanyahu. The cameras inside the polling stations were meant to deter the Arab public from voting,” he said, adding, “We expect the prime minister to have a very clear statement on the issue. We do not recommend anyone. Our effort to bring down Netanyahu was not enough, and others did not turn to us. We have nothing to influence but we want to promote our positions.”

According to the custom, Rivlin will meet with representatives of the factions and heard their recommendation on the candidate for prime minister. After the round of consultations with all the factions has ended, the president will announce the Knesset member who receives the mandate. According to the Basic Law, the person will have 28 days to form a coalition, and if needed, the president may grant a 14-day extension.

On Tuesday, Mr. Rivlin will meet with representatives of the Labor party, Yisrael Beiteinu, the United Right-Wing, Kulanu, Meretz and Ra’am-Balad.

The results of the elections were published last Thursday, but the official results will be published by the Elections Committee under the law only eight days later. Chairman of the Central Elections Committee Justice Chanan Meltzer announce the final results will be announced on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)