In this file photo dated March 24, 2021, Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid delivers a speech following the announcement of the first exit poll results for the Israeli Parliamentary election, at his party's headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. President Reuven Rivlin has tapped Lapid to form a new government, a step that could lead to the end of Netanyahu’s lengthy rule. (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER / FILE, AP)
JERUSALEM – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, Yair Lapid, with the formation of a new coalition government, a day after Netanyahu failed to do so.
In a broadcast statement, Rivlin announced that following a series of consultation talks earlier in the day with leaders of other parties, he came to the conclusion that Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, has "the highest chances" of forming a new government.
Lapid has the support of 56 lawmakers, Rivlin said. He now runs short of five lawmakers to form a majority coalition in Israel's 120-seat parliament.
During the consultation talks with Rivlin, Naftali Bennet, leader of a seven-seat nationalist party called Yamina, said he is not ruling out a coalition with Lapid.
ALSO READ: Netanyahu fails to form govt, rivals face big hurdles
Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, has the support of 56 lawmakers, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said. Lapid now runs short of five lawmakers to form a majority coalition in Israel's 120-seat parliament
Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Ra'am, the party of the Islamic movement in Israel which holds four seats in the parliament, said he "will cooperate in a positive way with anyone who will be tasked with forming the government."
Rivlin said he is hopeful that "a stable government" will be established to avoid a fifth round of elections in two years, following a series of inconclusive previous ones and a lingering political deadlock.
Lapid now has 28 days to put together a new governing coalition.
Lapid said on Wednesday he will work to form a unity government "as soon as possible."
On Wednesday night, Lapid talked with possible coalition partners after Israel's longest-serving leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a new government by the deadline on Tuesday.
"A unity government is not a compromise — it's our goal," Lapid said in a statement.
"We should form a government that will reflect the fact that we don't hate each other," he said, calling for a government in which "the left and the right work together to handle economical and security challenges."
Rivlin entrusted the task first with Netanyahu, after he came out on top in the March elections. However, Netanyahu lost his mandate on Tuesday night after he failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a government.
If Lapid will succeed in forming a government, Netanyahu and his Likud party could find themselves in the opposition for the first time in 12 years and end the long rule of Netanyahu, who has been in power for 15 years.
READ MORE: Rival tries to form govt coalition, Netanyahu claims win
Facing a criminal trial of corruption charges in three separate cases, the longest-serving Israeli leader is struggling for his political survival.