Blow for Netanyahu as opposition rival asked to form government by Israel's president

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has asked opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to attempt to form a new government following the October 27 elections. Eisenkot, a former military chief and the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was given the first opportunity to assemble a coalition after neither he nor Netanyahu's party secured a clear majority.

CBS News reports that representatives from most of Israel's main parties recommended Eisenkot be tasked with forming the government following discussions with the president. This decision represents a setback for Netanyahu. While the Prime Minister has alleged election interference by Arab countries, Din Livne, the acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, stated in a letter that there is no basis for claims regarding a systematic compromise of election integrity.

In his second statement since the election, Netanyahu warned that a government dependent on Hamas supporters would include members who praise the Nukhba murderers involved in the October 7 attack, according to Haaretz.

Brief written by urgent.news from Sky News, CBS News, CBC News, ABC News AU, Haaretz — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.