re: #366 O say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave..

OK, so I understand how the Knesset works generally, but how does this tie in with the Prime Minister? Your post stated that the President has tasked the opposition party with assembling a coalition government, does this mean that Bibi will get the ouster? Or is he effectively a lame duck until some other event happens?

Party in power typically has first shot at forming govt. The President in Israel’s sole job is to get knesset to form a government. If the party in power can’t form a coalition government, President goes to next party in size/strength to give them 30 days. Then, if they can’t, there’s another 30 days where they can try to hash out a coalition, and if that fails, new elections are called.