Israel president tasks Netanyahu with forming govt

Israel's president on Thursday tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming a new government after Parliament passed legislations approving details of a power-sharing deal between the premier's Likud and centrist rival Benny Gantz's Blue and White parties.

"I hope Israel will soon have a government that will deal successfully with the complex challenges that stand before us," Rivlin said, noting the dual crises of the political stalemate and the impact of the coronavirus.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel's Parliament approved amendments to two basic laws by a hefty majority, paving the way for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a fully functioning unity government for the first time since December 2018.

The Knesset or Parliament voted by 71 votes to 37 to back the power-sharing deal between Netanyahu's Likud and his main rival former military chief Gantz's Blue and White parties.

The bills were supported by the lawmakers in Netanyahu's Center-Right bloc, except for the ...