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.
Honeymoonish
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England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
The years Ramadan fell in May
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
Results
Male 51kg Round 1
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.
Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
Female 57kg quarter finals
Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.
RIDE%20ON
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The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory