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By Itzhak Rabihiya

President has vowed to do what he can to prevent third election in a row, but neither Gantz nor Netanyahu have a clear path to a majority

President Rivlin will begin consultations with the parties elected to the Knesset on Sunday and will then continue in talks with the candidates recommended by the parties to form the government. Director-General of Beit HaNasi Harel Tubi has this afternoon sent official letters to the heads of the parties elected to the 22nd Knesset, informing them that President Reuven Rivlin will begin consultations with all parties on the afternoon of Sunday 22 September.

Israel’s president has the power to appoint one of the 120 MKs elected on Tuesday as the next prime minister of Israel. The designated lawmaker must then cobble together a coalition that wins the support of a majority of Knesset members.

Tuesday’s election ended in an apparent deadlock, with Benny Gantz’s Blue and White emerging as the larger party, at 33 seats, and incumbent premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud winning 31. Neither party chief has a clear majority, a fact that has led both men to insist they had won the race.

The president reached his decision following discussions with the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Hanan Melcer, earlier today, and after receiving his consent.  After the consultations, which normally last around two days, and in light of the requests he has received from the political system, the president will, if necessary, invite the candidates proposed by the parties during the consultations to form the government for further talks. Once he receives the official results of the elections from Judge Melcer on Wednesday 25 September, the president will consider if a further round of consultations is required.

 Once one of them is chosen by the president, they have 28 days to present a coalition to the new Knesset and win a vote of confidence. The president is allowed to extend that period by up to 14 days.

Netanyahu on Wednesday gathered together the leaders of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, and obtained their support for a so-called bloc of some 55 seats that has vowed to conduct its coalition talks as a unified faction — in the hopes of swaying Rivlin to choose Netanyahu for premier, or at least prevent Gantz from successfully forming a coalition if he is selected first.

Precedent would seem to suggest Rivlin is likely to select Gantz, but the new “bloc” has sparked speculation that Rivlin may see Netanyahu as better positioned to form a coalition.

The president has promised to do “everything in my power” to prevent the country from heading to an unprecedented third consecutive within a year