Gantz given the task of forming government
Israel’s President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin has assigned the task of forming the government to Benny Gantz chairman of Kachol Lavan.
Benny Gantz watches as President Rivlin signs the order Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO
President Rivlin said: “At the end of the consultations I held with the political parties, 61 Members of Knesset expressed their support for former chief of staff and Knesset member Benny Gantz to be assigned the task of forming the government. Accordingly, under Article 7 of Basic Law: The Government (2001), I hereby place in your hands the possibility of forming a government.”
Gantz now has 28 days to form a government.
The president added: “This is a short amount of time, but given the current circumstances of national and international crisis, it even this is too long. The enormity of this moment, and the dimensions of the challenges we face require forming a government in Israel. A government for the people of Israel. Nothing about today’s ceremony reduces in any way the responsibility borne by all parties to create the conditions in which as broad a government as possible can be established in this hour of crisis.”
President Rivlin said a fourth round of elections are not possible adding ‘the keys to establishing a new Israeli government are now in your hands, sir, as well as in the hands of all the elected officials from all parties. On behalf of this dear people which resides in Zion, and for the good of all the citizens of Israel, I wish you luck.”
