Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel's centrist Blue and White party and the main rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested an additional two weeks to work on the difficult task of forming a unity government.
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Gantz was given the mandate to form a government by President Reuven Rivlin last month. That mandate will run out on Monday unless Rivlin decides to grant Gantz the additional time.
The president did not immediately respond to the request.
In his request, Gantz told Rivlin that he believes his Blue and White and Netanyahu's Likud "are close to signing an agreement, and that with additional time an agreement can be finalised".
The two leading parties had been inching closer to forming a long-awaited unity government ahead of the one-week Jewish Passover holiday that started Wednesday, but ultimately didn't cinch a deal.
Israel has been without a government for over a year after three consecutive inconclusive elections left no party able to build a parliamentary majority.
Australian Associated Press
