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What's next for Netanyahu?

Although Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition, it doesn't mean he's out of the game just yet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a memorial ceremony held at the supreme court honouring former Supreme Court president Meir Shamgar who died on Saturday in Jerusalem October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC11B6ED8B50
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“Netanyahu failed again,” tweeted Yair Lapid, number two on the Blue and White party list. “It’s already a pattern.”

That was the evening of Oct. 21, just a few minutes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he was returning his mandate to form a new government to President Reuven Rivlin. Lapid’s tweet reflected a very real situation. Netanyahu had just failed to form a government for the second consecutive time. It was a serious blow to his image as well. For the first time in a decade, the mandate would be held by someone other than Netanyahu. In other words, the power to form a government had just slipped from his hands.

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