Eisenkot given tough task of forming Israeli government over Netanyahu

President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new Israeli government to replace Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. Eisenkot, the 66-year-old leader of the centrist Yashar party and former military chief of staff, received endorsements from 67 members of the Knesset, while Netanyahu received 46 endorsements, according to Haaretz. Arutz Sheva - Israel National News also noted that 67 MKs recommended Eisenkot for the task.

Eisenkot has 28 days to secure a coalition, a period that President Herzog may extend by 14 days, according to DW English (Top Stories). New Voice of Ukraine reports that the entire government formation process is limited to approximately 100 days, after which new elections would be called if no candidate succeeds. Eisenkot has expressed a commitment to establishing a national emergency government.

To achieve a majority, Eisenkot faces several potential paths, including forming a minority government with outside support from Arab parties, building a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, or pursuing a national unity government with Netanyahu, though New Voice of Ukraine reports analysts consider these scenarios unlikely. While Arab party leaders recommended Eisenkot, New Voice of Ukraine states he has ruled out forming a coalition with them.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Arutz Sheva - Israel National News, New Voice of Ukraine, DW English (Top Stories), Haaretz — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.