Benjamin Netanyahu asked to form Israel government after inconclusive polls

Benjamin Netanyahu (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Israel’s president handed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu the difficult task of trying to form a government from the country’s splintered parliament, giving the embattled leader a chance to prolong his lengthy term in office while he stands trial on corruption charges.

In his announcement, President Reuven Rivlin acknowledged that no party leader had the necessary support to form a majority coalition in the 120-seat Knesset.