Bibi May Already Be Returning The Mandate To Rivlin
Barring unforeseen flexibility by Blue and White in coalition talks with Likud at Jerusalem's Orient Hotel on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will already return his mandate to form a government to President Reuven Rivlin before the Rosh Hashana holiday begins Sunday evening, Likud sources said on Saturday night.
Sources close to Rivlin said he was prepared to receive the mandate back from Netayahu and that there was no meeting or formal procedure required. If the mandate is returned, Rivlin may hold additional consultations but would formally task Blue and White leader Benny Gantz with forming a government by Thursday, the day when the new Knesset will be sworn in.
"If we receive the mandate, we will immediately start working to build a government and appeal to every faction, except the Joint List, which already said they would not join us," a senior Blue and White official close to Gantz said.
Gantz would then have 28 days to build a coalition, with no possibility of receiving an extension. If Gantz fails, there would be a three-week period in which any MK could obtain the support of 61 MKs and form a government to avoid a third election in under a year.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Netanyahu-likely-to-return-mandate-to-Rivlin-603217