OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC)– Israeli president Shimon Peres on Friday granted Likud Leader Benjamin Netanyahu two more weeks to try and form a new coalition government the Hebrew radio reported.
It said that Netanyahu briefed Peres on the results of his ongoing consultations to form the government. The first period of 28 days was not enough for Netanyahu to convince other parties to join his coalition.
Press reports said that Netanyahu would utilize the new period in an attempt to convince Labor leader Ehud Barak current war minister to join the coalition.
The broadcast said that Netanyahu had asked Peres a few days ago to help him in convincing Barak to join the coalition.
Barak in press statements last Wednesday called for reconsidering his party’s position in refusing to join Netanyahu’s government. He said that the “state’s higher interests” should urge Labor to join the coalition.
The Labor party is expected to decide on the issue during an extraordinary conference next Tuesday press reports said.
