Israel's President has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to form a new government after last week's deadlocked elections. <br />''<br />''President Reuven Rivlin yesterday mandated the task to Netanyahu after his initial attempts at negotiating a unity deal between the Prime Minister and his main challenger Benny Gantz failed.<br />'' <br />''Netanyahu will now have 28 days to form a government, with a possible two-week extension. If all attempts fail, Rivlin can assign the task to someone else. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Netanyahu received the endorsement of 55 members of Parliament for the post of Prime Minister after the election, while Gantz received 54. </span><br />