Israel opposition leader invited to form government after Netanyahu misses deadline

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has been invited to form a government. Picture: Oded Balilty/AP

Israel’s president has invited opposition leader Yair Lapid to form a new government – a step that could lead to the end of the lengthy rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Reuven Rivlin announced his decision on live television a day after Mr Netanyahu failed to cobble together a governing coalition by a midnight deadline.