Israel’s Netanyahu appears poised to build coalition

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister has secured a majority of backers in the new parliament and will now be tasked with forming the next government.

Israel’s ceremonial president, Reuven Rivlin, was meeting Monday with the parties in parliament to hear their recommendations before appointing who will form the next coalition government. After a resounding election victory for his Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu was assured of getting that nod.

It became a formality after the new centrist party Kulanu gave its nod to Netanyahu as well, giving him 61 backers out of the 120 in parliament.

Rivlin is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu later this week and officially set the coalition talks into motion. Netanyahu appears poised to set up a coalition with Kulanu and several religious and ultra-Orthodox parties.