Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu will have until December 21 to form a new government after receiving an extension of about 10 days on Friday.
Mr Netanyahu was asked to try to form the next Israeli government after his centre-right nationalist party won the largest share of seats in the country’s elections on November 1.
While he has already got the backing of other parties in parliament in order to reach the threshold to govern, he has yet to finalise his coalition.
Israeli election — in pictures
Sunday was the original deadline to form the government or another candidate may have been asked to try to form a coalition. Failing that, Israelis would have been sent back to the polls yet again to break the deadlock.
While Mr Netanyahu sought the maximum two-week extension allowed by law, President Isaac Herzog, whose job as head of state is largely ceremonial, gave him an extra 10 days.
Coalition talks have dragged on longer than expected since Mr Netanyahu from the outset had support from right-wing and religious parties that control 64 of the Knesset's 120 seats.
A major sticking point has been who gets which ministerial post and the distribution of power between them, Israeli media has reported.
The centrist opposition had urged Mr Herzog not to grant an extension, accusing Mr Netanyahu of buying time to pass divisive legislation.
One such bill would enable a senior partner of Mr Netanyahu to serve in the cabinet despite a criminal record.
On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu reached a coalition deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party led by longtime Likud ally Aryeh Deri, who was convicted of tax offences as part of a plea deal and placed on probation.
Under the latest deal, the Shas party will hold senior posts in ministries for religious services, social affairs, education and interior affairs.
Deri will serve half a term as the minister of health and interior affairs, before becoming finance minister. He will also hold the post of deputy prime minister.
The legal manoeuvre has drawn criticism that it undermines Israel’s democratic institutions. It “makes a mockery of this criminal procedure,” said Amir Fuchs, senior researcher at the Israeli Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.
A prolonged political stalemate has led to five elections in less than four years. An outgoing caretaker government remains in office.
“These are complex days for Israeli society when disputes over fundamental issues threaten to tear apart and ignite violence and hatred,” Mr Herzog said in a letter to Mr Netanyahu that his office made public.
He called for the formation of a government that represents the entire country and for a coalition that maintains a respectful dialogue between the branches of government.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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PLAY-OFF%20DRAW
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
LIST OF INVITEES
Shergo Kurdi (am)
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan
AbdulRahman Al Mansour (am)
Matteo Manassero
Alfie Plant
Othman Al Mulla
Shaun Norris
Killing of Qassem Suleimani