ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TRIES TO DISSUADE HIS OPPONENT FROM FORMING A GOVERNMENT AS HE SEEKS TO HOLD ON TO POWER.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to dissuade his opponent from forming a government as he seeks to hold on to power.

Reports from Israel say he is close to reaching agreement with ultra-nationalist leader Naftali Bennett.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister, fell short of  a decisive majority at a general election in March, the fourth in two years.

Natanyahu who is on trial for fraud, has been in power to twelve years and has dominated Israel Politics for a generation.

He was given the first chance in forming a government, but was unable to secure the Coalition partners needed.

Mr. Lapid’s Yesh Atid party came second to Mr. Netanyahu right-wing Likud at the last election and was given until 2 June to build a Coalition.