Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to form new Israeli government 'in 2-3 weeks'

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to form a new government within weeks after defying the polls to seal a clear election win, his rightwing Likud party said today. "The prime minister intends to begin forming the government immediately in order to finish the task within two to three weeks," a party statement said.

It said Netanyahu had already spoken overnight with the leaders of smaller parties he saw as likely coalition partners.