Summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected former army chief and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to try to form the next government, rather than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a coalition with at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.Key Facts
- Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision on Saturday and planned to formally give him the mandate on Sunday.
- Parties representing 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who recommended Netanyahu, according to Herzog’s spokesperson.
- Eisenkot’s four-party alliance won 48 seats in the October 27 election, while Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc won 53.
- Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won 19 seats, a record number.
- Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab-led parties.
- The ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas could give Eisenkot a 61-seat majority if they join his coalition.
- Netanyahu warned that an opposition government backed by Arab-led parties would lead to Israel’s collapse.
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