Benjamin Netanyahu Scores Majority Needed To Form Government

Politico ^ | 03/23/2015 | Nick Gass

[goldstategop]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secured the requisite majority of parliamentary members to form a government, according to reports from the country’s media. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin continues to meet with factions Monday, with an announcement tasking Netanyahu to form his government expected later in the day.

Representatives from Kulanu — a crucial centrist swing party — met with Rivlin to recommend that the Likud party’s Netanyahu be tasked with forming a new government, giving the current prime minister the absolute majority of 61 votes in his favor.

“We nominate Netanyahu and the broader the base of the coalition the better it will be for all of us,” said party leader Moshe Kahlon, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Rivlin was also scheduled to meet with party representatives Monday from Yisrael Betenyu and Meretz to get their nominations fror prime minister.

The president met with Likud, Zionist Union, Jewish Home, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Joint List factions on Sunday, according to The Times of Israel, with 51 of 88 Knesset members he meet with recommending Netanyahu to lead the next government. Kulanu would put Netanyahu over the top.

[goldstategop]

Prime Minister Netanyahu clinched 61 seats when the critical centrist party's Moshe Kahlon of Kulanu recommended him to Israel's President Reuven Rivlin - he thus attained the minimum number of seats required for a Knesset majority. Later in the day, Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beitenu faction with 6 seats also recommended Netanyahu, bringing his coalition total to 67, a comfortable majority. Netanyahu can begin forming his new government on Wednesday, after Israel's President receives the official election results and he can then charge him with that mandate.

[Arm_Bears]

Obama will sulk for the remainder of the week.

[DoodleDawg]

Netenyahu’s last coalition lasted about two years. It’ll be interesting to see if this one last longer or ends sooner.

[goldstategop]

It had two left-leaning parties, Hatnua and Yesh Atid with which he was constantly at odds.

The new one is more homogeneous and should last four years.

[freeangel]

Gotta love it when Hussein gets $itch slapped!

[molson209]

Oh My , Obama will have to go and Netenyahu will get to stay and wave good bye to Barry