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Likud leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been granted a two-week extension from President Reuven Rivlin on forming a coalition government.

Rivlin invited Netanyahu to form a government following Likud’s election victory last month. However, with the one-month initial deadline to complete the process expiring during this week’s Remembrance Day commemorations and Independence Day celebrations, Likud is yet to reach a coalition agreement with any single party. Rivlin has now given Netanyahu a new deadline of 7 May by which to form a coalition.

However, talks are reportedly at an advanced stage with the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) plus Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu, which is set to become the second-largest faction within the government. Likud and UTJ talked extensively yesterday and meetings are expected today with Shas. It is reported that Netanyahu has offered Shas leader Aryeh Deri the Transportation or Economy Ministry, despite Deri’s desire to become Interior Minister, with Kahlon keen to see his party control the Interior Ministry or key elements of it. Some media reports say that Likud is hopeful of reaching agreement with Shas, UTJ and Kulanu before Remembrance Day begins tomorrow evening.

Nonetheless, such progress would still leave Likud with what is considered the tougher task of agreements with Jewish Home and Yisrael Beitenu. Both parties performed poorly in the election, but regard themselves as natural coalition partners, with leaders of both parties expecting key ministerial portfolios. Netanyahu met with Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett on Friday. However, Bennett indicated an impasse over the Religious Affairs Ministry, saying via social media that Likud planned to deliver “the religious portfolio” to Shas, a move which “ends negotiations with Jewish Home.”

Meanwhile, Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog appeared to decisively quash suggestions of a national unity government. He told a cultural event in Tel Aviv over the weekend that being in opposition “is not a default, it’s a preference” and that “From our place in the opposition we will replace the Likud government in the future, because Netanyahu will make the government hit a wall in the end.”