Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed up his first partners on Wednesday for a new coalition government, a lawmaker and spokeswoman said, putting him on course to lead a heavily right-leaning cabinet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed up his first partners on Wednesday for a new coalition government, a lawmaker and spokeswoman said, putting him on course to lead a heavily right-leaning cabinet.

The deals with the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party and centrist Kulanu give Netanyahu's right-wing Likud control of 46 of parliament's 120 seats, Reuter’s news agency reported.

He has until May 7 to form a government.

"We signed a coalition deal with the Likud just now," UTJ leader Yakov Litzman told Israeli's Channel One. Netanyahu then signed with centrist Kulanu party, a Likud spokeswoman said.

Kulanu leader Moshe Kahalon, who campaigned on a platform of social reform, was promised the finance portfolio, identical statements from his party and Likud said.

"In the forthcoming government we shall press ahead with reforms on housing, banking and work to narrow the gaps in Israeli society," the statements quoted him as saying at the signing ceremony.

Public radio said early Thursday that Kulanu would also receive the environmental protection and construction ministries, AFP news agency reported.

Likud is still negotiating with three other parties with whom it is expected to secure a 67-seat majority: ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu, far-right Jewish Home and ultra-Orthodox Shas.

His outgoing cabinet included two centrist parties and had engaged in US-brokered peace talks with the Palestinians, which collapsed a year ago.