Israeli PM's rival begins talks to form govt after election results

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main opponent, Yair Lapid, began Thursday a series of meetings in a bid to form a coalition government after the election results showed no clear winner.

Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party and a former finance minister, met on Thursday with Merav Michaeli, leader of the Labour party, reported Xinhua news agency according to a statement issued by Yesh Atid.

The two discussed possible cooperation to form a coalition and are expected to hold further meetings, the statement said.

Channel 12 TV news reported that Lapid has already scheduled meetings with other leaders in a bid to gather a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.

The move came after the final results showed again a political deadlock, with neither Netanyahu nor his opponents having a clear path to form a government. Netanyahu's bloc won 52 seats and his opponents won 57 seats.

Next week, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is expected to officially receive the election results. Then, he will launch a series of consultations with heads of the factions, after which the president will announce who will be tasked with attempting to form the next government.

Tuesday's parliamentary elections is the fourth time that Israelis cast their ballots over the past two years following a series of indecisive results and prolonged political deadlock.

Netanyahu is struggling for his political survival while facing a criminal trial over corruption charges in three separate cases.