Netanyahu begins coalition talks to form Israeli government

Netanyahu shares little in common with his new partners other than opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, and a mutual desire to enable parliament to override the high court, which will help get his corruption charges thrown out.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, expressed alarm about the deteriorating state of affairs in the West Bank in a phone call on Thursday to thank the outgoing Israeli prime minister, the centrist Yair Lapid.

After burning bridges by betraying political partners in the past, however, it is currently unlikely that any other party would be willing to join a Netanyahu government.