AKIPRESS.COM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completed the formation of a new coalition government, less than an hour before a midnight deadline.

President Reuven Rivlin's office said Netanyahu called late Wednesday to inform him that the deal was done. An official in Netanyahu's office also confirmed a deal.

The announcement came after marathon talks with the hard-line "Jewish Home" Party.

The deal will put Netanyahu at the head of a narrow coalition, controlling just 61 seats in the 120-member parliament, reports The Associated Press.