Netanyahu Secures Govt Deal With Jewish Home Party

Israel's right-wing Likud Party on Wednesday hammered out a deal with the Jewish Home Party, enabling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government.



The deal will help Netanyahu get the 61 seats necessary for forming the government.



The agreement between Likud and the Jewish Home Party was hammered only hours before a final deadline for the formation of a government.



The deal will be officially announced by Netanyahu and the Jewish Home Party leader Naftali Bennett, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported.



Netanyahu's Likud won 30 seats in the Knesset election that was held in mid-March, while the Jewish Home Party won eight seats.



Netanyahu informed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin that he could form Israel's next government, having garnered the support of 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset.



Netanyahu earlier made agreements with the centrist Kulanu Party (10 seats), the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism Party (7 seats) and Shas Party (6 seats) to join the government.



On March 26, Netanyahu was given 42 days to form Israel's new government.



www.aa.com.tr/en - İsrail