Netanyahu officially tasked with forming Israeli government

By Ahmed Asmar

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu was officially tasked on Sunday with forming the upcoming government, according to Israeli media.

Netanyahu received the mandate to form the government after meeting with President Isaac Herzog, who completed three days of consultations with leaders of political parties, Haaretz reported.

Netanyahu, a former prime minister, and his right-wing bloc won 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (Israel’s parliament), securing him an outright majority to form the government.