Israeli president to ask Knesset to form government

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will ask Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein on Thursday to form the government.

The move comes following the failure of the two parties; Likud and, Blue and White to form the government after engaging in months-long talks with the other political parties.

Rivlin's office said the president and Edelstein will hold a news conference later on Thursday to announce the beginning of a 21-day period where 61 Members of Knesset may recommend any MK to form the government.

According to the Israeli law, if the MKs do not agree on one name, the Knesset shall be dissolved and another election will be held.

This means that the Israelis will cast ballots to choose their MKs thrice in less than a year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a government following the elections which took place in April and September.

However, observers rule out the possibility of forming a government in this 21-day period due to the current complexity of the Israeli political conditions.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara