President Herzog picked Gadi Eisenkot to form a government after the deadlocked election. Netanyahu’s rival has 28 days.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday chose former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to try to form the country’s next government. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival. He is due to formally receive the mandate Sunday evening, according to Reuters. The Oct. 27 election left neither side with a clear path to a majority.
Eisenkot will have 28 days to build a coalition of at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, with a possible 14-day extension. Herzog said lawmakers representing 67 seats recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 for Netanyahu. Both Arab-led parties backed Eisenkot during consultations this week, though they have not agreed to join a coalition. The Shas party, with six seats, backed Netanyahu.
Eisenkot faces deep divisions among his backers. He has set four principles for any partner, including labeling Hamas a terrorist organization. The leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, which endorsed him, has said the party will not sit in a government with Arab parties. On Friday, Eisenkot called for an emergency government and did not rule out a minority government. Netanyahu renewed his call for a national unity government of Zionist parties, an idea Herzog has signaled he wants to explore.
If Eisenkot fails, Herzog can name another candidate. If that candidate also fails, the Knesset can nominate someone itself.
This report draws on France 24, Al Jazeera, Fox News, The Hill and Reuters.