President Rivlin Accedes to PM Netanyahu's Request for an Additional 14 Days
in Which to Form a Government

(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)

President Reuven Rivlin, this morning (Monday, 20 April 2015), at the
President's Residence in Jerusalem, met with Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and – pursuant to Article 8 of Basic Law: The Government – acceded
to the latter's request that he be granted an additional 14 days in which to
form a government.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Mr. President, I have come this morning to
request an extension so that I may complete the work of forming a
government. We have made progress and are on the way to forming a
government. However, I require additional time in order for the government
to be stable and so that we might reach agreement on important issues that
will aid us in meeting the challenges facing the State of Israel."

President Rivlin said, "Mr. Prime Minister, there being no change in the
circumstances regarding the recommendation according to which I assigned the
responsibility to you, and in the wake of your updating me about your
ability to complete the work of forming a government within the allotted
time, I hereby give you an extension of 14 days in order to complete the
formation of a government. The President's consideration is not limited in
giving an extension but [the total period] cannot be longer than the 42 days
provided by law. I wish you success in your work. The entire people of
Israel hope that a government will be established; indeed, a transition
government has not received the confidence of the Knesset and is viewed by
the public as needing to be dealt with. I hope that in the coming days you
will succeed in forming a stable government for the State of Israel."