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

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to attempt forming a governing coalition following the nation's elections scheduled for October 27th. Eisenkot, a former military leader who stood as the primary challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is now in a position to remove Israel's longest-reigning premier.

"It is time to establish a national emergency government," Eisenkot declared after the presidential announcement on his X account. He has six weeks to form a coalition, a daunting task in a deeply divided country still grappling with the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the three years of wars that followed in Gaza and other regions.

During his conversations with the president this week, representatives from most of Israel's main parties suggested Eisenkot be given the responsibility of assembling a new government. However, forming a parliamentary majority remains challenging and any potential coalition would necessitate candidates making difficult compromises that could potentially anger many stakeholders.