Rivlin's consultations with parties chosen for Knesset to begin Monday

By TAMAR URIEL-BEERI
President Reuven Rivlin votes in Jerusalem (photo credit: ESTY DZIUBOV/TPS)
President Reuven Rivlin votes in Jerusalem
(photo credit: ESTY DZIUBOV/TPS)
President Reuven Rivlin will begin doing a round of consultations on Monday with all factions chosen for the Knesset, all of which will be broadcast live.
Rivlin will move from large to small factions that were elected for the Knesset in coordination with the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Hanan Melzer.
As is customary, Rivlin will hear the parties' recommendations and at the end will announce the member of the Knesset to whom he has entrusted the task of forming a government. Once this has been done, that person has 28 days to form a new government.
In a historic decision by the President's Residence, the meetings with the parties will be broadcast live on all platforms for the first time to ensure transparency for Israeli citizens.
Blue and White head Benny Gantz called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and congratulated him on his election victory on Friday, according to KAN radio.
 "I am calling to congratulate you on the achievement in the elections, and I wish you, your family and all the people of Israel a happy holiday," Gantz told him.
 
"Thank you," replied Netanyahu. "We will bring Israel back to peace, everyone in his job. Shabbat Shalom."