Israel president to pick candidate next week to try to form gov’t

Whether Israel can form a government may not be known for weeks with the possibility of a fifth election in two years.

President Reuven Rivlin announced on Monday he will begin consultations next week with Israel’s political rivals in hopes of unravelling the country’s post-election deadlock. Israel’s presidency is largely a figurehead office. But after national elections, the president is responsible for choosing the leader of the party with the best chance of forming a government to put together a majority coalition in the 120-seat parliament. That is usually a straightforward decision with the leader of the largest individual party typically selected as the prime minister-designate. But after last Tuesday’s election delivered no clear path to forming a governing majority, Rivlin will face a difficult task.