Israel's president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has appointed opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot as the first candidate to form a government following the Oct. 27 elections, marking a potential setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot, a former military chief who ran as Netanyahu's main challenger, expressed his intention to establish a national emergency government in a post on his X account.

He is granted up to six weeks to assemble a coalition, a daunting task for Israel, which is deeply divided and still reeling from the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, as well as the ongoing conflicts in Gaza. During his talks with the president this week, most representatives from Israel's main parties suggested Eisenkot take on the responsibility of forming a new government.

However, the process of forming a parliamentary majority remains challenging, and any potential coalition would necessitate difficult compromises that could spark outrage among various factions.