Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started on Thursday the daunting task of trying to cobble together a coalition government.
The country faces political deadlock that emerged from this month's repeat elections, which had no clear winner.
A unity government with Netanyahu's main challenger, former army chief Benny Gantz, appears to be the preferred option. But on Thursday, the two main parties remained far apart.
Netanyahu has up to six weeks in his attempt. But as he doesn't have the 61-seat majority needed to establish a government, his odds appear slim.
If Netanyahu fails, President Reuven Rivlin could ask Gantz to try. If he too doesn't succeed, the president could choose another legislator or he could set in motion unprecedented third elections.
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Netanyahu had suffered one of the biggest defeats of his political career following April polls, when he failed to form a coalition despite his Likud party and its right-wing and religious allies coming out on top.
Meanwhile, the attorney general has announced his intention to indict Netanyahu on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges pending a hearing expected for early October.
Many expect him to seek immunity.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
