Israeli president tasks Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main opponent, with forming government
Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who led the opposition to incumbent Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections, will have 28 days to form a government.
Jerusalem: President Isaac Herzog has appointed Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief of staff, to form Israel's next government after the October elections. With 48 seats in the Israeli parliament, Eisenkot's wide-ranging opposition coalition could potentially become the government, following behind Benjamin Netanyahu's 53-seat support.
The unassuming Eisenkot is the opposite of Netanyahu, a former prime minister whose inflammatory style and flawless American-accented English have earned both admiration and hatred. Eisenkot, however, is a reserved man whose Sephardic roots, working-class background, and relative lack of charisma have made him appealing to voters tired of Netanyahu's divisive tenure.
If successful, Eisenkot would take over as prime minister, marking a new era for Israel, particularly after three years of conflict and growing backlash from both sides in the United States.
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