Netanyahu Needs One More Party for Coalition, May Seek More Time

By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu was still one partner short of a coalition to secure a parliamentary majority on Wednesday after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party signed up, with the deadline for forming a government looming. The deal with United Torah Judaism (UTJ), announced late on Tuesday, promised Netanyahu control of 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats with his conservative Likud party. That left Shas, an ultra-Orthodox party with 11 seats, as Likud’s last likely ally. After coming ahead in a Nov. 1 election, Netanyahu was given 28 days to…

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