Ultra-Orthodox party snubs Netanyahu, declines to back him as Israel PM; rival Eisenkot tipped to form government

United Torah Judaism, a Jewish party aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu, has decided not to recommend him for a second term as Israel's prime minister. The decision came after the October 27 election, where neither Netanyahu nor his rival Gadi Eisenkot received enough votes to form a majority government. President Isaac Herzog is currently consulting with political parties, holding his second day of discussions.

United Torah Judaism, which represents ultra-Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazi origin, has stated that they are focusing on addressing the status of Torah students, a key issue for them. Eisenkot, a former military chief, is advocating for the closure of exemptions to military service, a stance that has drawn criticism from some of his opposition allies.

Netanyahu's bloc, which includes United Torah Judaism, holds 53 seats in the new parliament, compared to Eisenkot's bloc with 48 seats. Observers suggest that United Torah Judaism's stance may be a way to demonstrate that their votes are not guaranteed, but they could still participate in a government if Netanyahu succeeds in forming one.

If Herzog grants Eisenkot the mandate to form a government, he will have 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, Herzog will approach other parties to form a government. Israeli-Arab parties, buoyed by opposition to Netanyahu's hard-right policies, have gained 19 seats and could potentially join forces with Eisenkot, though this could alienate some opposition supporters.