President Rivlin opens consultations on new Israeli cabinet

The formal procedures for setting up a new government after an Israeli election begins Sunday with President Reuven Rivlin inviting party leaders to his residence to recommend the prime minister designate. This time, Binyamin Netanyahu is unchallenged for the post having won the election and rounded up a majority of 61 Knesset members to support him as prime minister. The next stage is the onset of coalition negotiations between the leading Likud and potential coalition partners, for which the president has allotted four weeks, with the option of a two-week extension.