DHAKA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held on to his job, announcing that he had hammered together a new coalition government just ahead of a midnight legal deadline.

But with a knife-edge majority of just one seat in the 120-member parliament expectations were that he would have to expand the ruling alliance beyond his natural religious and rightist partners or battle for survival at every vote, reports the Aljazeera.

“I am leaving here to call the president and the speaker of the parliament to inform them that I have been able to build a government,” he said in remarks at the Knesset after marathon talks with Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett on Wednesday.

President Reuven Rivlin’s office said he had sent a written note followed up with a phone call.

“I am honored to inform you that I have been successful in forming a government, which I will request is brought before the Knesset for its approval as soon as possible,” Rivlin's office quoted the note as saying.

Analysts say he will be at the mercy of rebels, caprice, or even a bad cold the first time the coalition faces a crucial vote.

He would then be forced to expand the ruling alliance beyond his natural religious and rightist partners and turn reluctantly to the Zionist Union, which has so far said it will sit in opposition.

Netanyahu himself said he hoped to expand the alliance, without elaborating.

“I have said that 61 is a good number and 61-plus is better still, but it starts at 61,” he said in his Knesset remarks.

BDST: 0939 HRS, MAY 07, 2015
BD/