(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu late Wednesday night, Dec. 21 informed President Isaac Herzog that he has secured the necessary backing to form the country’s next government.

Netanyahu tweeted that he had succeeded in forming a right-wing/religious coalition, minutes before the midnight deadline.

The tweet consisted of a two-word Hebrew phrase that roughly translates into: “I got it.”

After a victory for his Likud Party and its allies, Netanyahu anticipated an easier job forming a coalition. However, in addition to the 28 days he was initially granted to form a government, Netanyahu needed 10 additional days.

The extra time was also needed to pass laws necessary to satisfy allied political parties, including a law to allow Shas Party Chairman Aryeh Deri to serve as a minister despite a conviction for tax evasion, and the creation of a minister of national security position with expanded powers over the police for Otzma Yehudit Party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The new government will not be sworn in until next week at the earliest as Netanyahu and outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid agreed that the next Knesset plenum meeting will be after Chanukah.

The deadline to swear in the next government is Jan. 2.