If the opinion polls prove correct, following the General Election on 7 May, British voters might be waiting some time before they learn who is to form the next Government and on what basis.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, spare a thought for Israeli voters. They went to the polls on 17 March but, more than a month later, still do not know what Government they are going to have. This week the “Times” of Israel had this report:<\/p>\n
“With a resounding election victory last month, Netanyahu seemed to have an easy path toward quickly establishing a coalition government with his traditional nationalist, religious and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies. But after weeks of negotiations with potential partners, Netanyahu is finding the task harder than expected and is reportedly \u2014 at least according to threats from Likud officials \u2014 flirting with the idea of reaching out to his main dovish rivals in Zionist Union to form a unity government.
\nThroughout the heated campaign, Netanyahu ruled out the possibility of joining forces with Isaac Herzog and his center-left Zionist Union and vowed to rule from the right.<\/p>\nElection results gave his Likud party 30 seats and secured him a potential 67-seat majority with his traditional allies. In negotiations, however, these allies have made demands to head powerful government ministries.<\/p>\n
Under Israeli election rules, if Netanyahu fails to form a coalition at the end of 42 days \u2014 the first 28 plus the two-week extension \u2014 Rivlin can assign someone else the task of doing so. While this is technically possible, it is unlikely that Zionist Union would have an easier time establishing a coalition. If no one succeeds in forming a coalition, the president would be left with no choice but to order a new national election.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n