MOSCOW, February 3 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited all parliamentary factions, including his opponents, to take part in a national unity government to address issues facing the country, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Sunday.
“We have to put aside what divides us so that we can have peace among ourselves and with our neighbors,” the Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying. “The broadest, most stable government possible is what is necessary at this time. In our reality, we cannot have boycotts.”
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday tasked Netanyahu with forming a new government. Netanyahu, who was reelected on January 22, has 28 days to form the government. He may request a two-week extension from the president if necessary.
The coalition negotiations are set to begin Sunday.
Netanyahu said his government’s priority would be preventing Iran’s effort to build nuclear weapons.
Recommended as premier by 82 of the 120 incoming parliament deputies, he also pledged to seek peace, saying each day without negotiations with Palestinians was wasted. He called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume peace talks, according to the Times of Israel.
Netanyahu was recommended for the premier’s post by his own Likud-Beytenu bloc (that won 31 seats in the January 22 vote), Yesh Atid (19 seats), Jewish Home (12), Shas (11), United Torah Judaism (7) and Kadima (2) - 82 endorsements in all.
