Majority of Israeli lawmakers back Eisenkot to form government

In a recent development, a majority of Israeli lawmakers have endorsed former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to lead the country's next government, according to consultations with President Isaac Herzog. Out of the 120 Knesset members, 67 members, including those from the centrist Yashar party, have expressed support for Eisenkot, who is seen as a major competitor to current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, this backing alone does not guarantee Eisenkot's success in forming a government.

To form a coalition, Eisenkot would need the support of the Arab-dominated Joint List and the Ra'am party, which together won 19 seats in the recent elections. This situation presents challenges, as some of Eisenkot's allies have previously declined to cooperate with Arab parties. Following Israel's parliamentary elections on October 27, neither Netanyahu's right-wing camp nor Eisenkot's centrist alliance emerged with a majority.

President Herzog has been meeting with representatives of both parties since Wednesday, giving each the chance to recommend a candidate for the task of forming a government. He is set to meet with Likud and Yashar representatives on Thursday evening, after which he will decide who has the best chance of securing a parliamentary majority.