Netanyahu narrowly ahead in consultations with all parties

Israeli president tasked with choosing candidate to form Israel's next government after inconclusive election

Benjamin Netanyahu has come out narrowly ahead of his rival, Benny Gantz, during consultations with Israeli parliamentarians on who should lead the next government, although it remained unclear if he would be chosen to form a coalition.

President Reuven Rivlin ended two days of talks on Monday with representatives from all the Knesset parties, following a stalled election last week that has thrown uncertainly over the country's political future.