President Reuven Rivlin granted a request Monday by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for another two weeks to form a government amidst difficult negotiations with his preferred coalition parties, including natural allies such as The Jewish Home, Kulanu and the religious parties. Netanyahu had hoped to be able to announce a new government in time for Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, and the necessary extension has fueled speculation that he will be forced to turn to his opponents in the Zionist Union to form a coalition government, despite fierce opposition to the idea from his own supporters and the repeated rejection of the idea by ZU leader Isaac Herzog. Read More
