As Haredi allies withhold support for Netanyahu, Eisenkot poised to secure most endorsements

As Israel's political landscape continues to evolve, Naftali Bennett's B Yachad party representatives arrived at the President's Residence on Thursday to discuss the formation of the country's next government. The discussions centered around the selection of a prime minister, with Bennett and opposition leaders Yair Golan (Democrats) and Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) affirming their support for Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot.

After consulting with all parties except the two largest, B Yachad secured Eisenkot's backing, alongside Yisrael Beytenu, Raam, the Joint List, and Bennett's own party. In contrast, Benjamin Netanyahu's faction received support from Religious Zionist Party-Zehut, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit, while United Torah Judaism refrained from endorsing any candidate.

The consultations are a crucial step in Herzog's process of identifying the Knesset member most likely to successfully assemble a governing coalition, with at least 61 lawmakers in agreement. According to Basic Law: The Government, the chosen candidate will have 28 days to form a government, with the president potentially granting an additional 14-day extension if needed.