Report: Obama Will Cancel Israel Visit If No Coalition in Place
President Barack Obama will cancel his planned visit to Israeli next month if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unable to form a coalition by March 16, Israel’s Channel 10 reported on Thursday.
After the Israeli elections on January 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was tasked with forming Israel’s new governing coalition. March 16 is the legal deadline for Netanyahu to form the coalition, or inform President Shimon Peres that he has been unable to do so.
Obama’s visit was expected to take place after the new Israeli government was formed, with the assumption that this would happen by mid-March. A likely date for the visit was set at March 21, although according to a senior Israeli official, the visit would may be postponed until after Passover if the coalition-building process is delayed.
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