cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned the mandate to form a government to President Reuven Rivlin minutes after the end of the Simhat Torah holiday on Monday night, and two nights before the deadline for him to build a coalition.Rivlin, who has received the message from Netanyahu , will hold consultations with faction representatives who request to meet with him.By law, the president has three days to give the mandate to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.Sources close to Gantz said they do not expect the mandate to be given before Wednesday.Netanyahu released a video complaining that Gantz refused to negotiate with him. In the video, Netanyahu revealed that in addition to what is known to the public, he had initiated secret steps to build a unity government with Gantz.The prime minister warned in the video that Gantz could form a minority government backed by the Joint List in a parliamentary safety net.Netanyahu said that if Gantz built such a coalition, he would serve as head of the opposition.“A minority government will be formed with the support of Joint List MKs who encourage terror and oppose Israel’s existence,” Netanyahu warned.“How can a minority government led by Gantz and supported by these MKs fight terror?”But Netanyahu said a unity government could still be formed. By law, if Gantz fails to build a coalition during the 28-day mandate he will receive from Rivlin, there will be 21 days in which any MK can obtain the support of 61 MKs to form a government. If no one succeeds, an election will be initiated automatically.