Shamir Asked to Form Government
President Chaim Herzog today invited right-wing leader Yitzhak Shamir to try to form a new government after Labor Party leader Shimon Peres failed to do so, officials said.
It was the first time in Israel’s 42-year history that a candidate selected by the president has failed to form a government.
The 66-year-old Peres was assigned the task of putting together a new coalition five weeks ago after Shamir, leader of the right-wing Likud Party, lost a Knesset vote of confidence March 15.
The vote was triggered by Peres’ demand that Shamir accept U.S. terms for convening Palestinian-Israeli talks. Shamir declined, saying he needed more time.
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