Netanyahu rival Eisenkot tipped to seek Israeli government with backing of Arab lists

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is poised to appoint Gadi Eisenkot as the leader who may form a new government, following the October 27 election where Eisenkot secured 67 recommendations, while Benjamin Netanyahu garnered 46. This comes after neither leader managed to secure a majority. The Arab-majority lists, which secured 19 seats in the election, have also endorsed Eisenkot.

However, the opposition's Avigdor Liberman has indicated he will not join a government reliant on Arab party support, citing their refusal to label Hamas as a "terror group." Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism, a right-wing party that previously backed Netanyahu, has declined to recommend him again as premier. They have expressed their intent to work towards ending exemptions for military service for religious students.

The opposition has been critical of these exemptions, which have resulted in reservists serving multiple tours since the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. If Herzog appoints Eisenkot as the new prime minister, he will have 28 days to form a government, with a potential 14-day extension. If he fails to do so within this timeframe, Herzog will appoint another lawmaker to attempt forming a government.