President tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming new government

President Isaac Herzog has decided to task Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the centrist Yashar party and a former military chief, with forming Israel's next government. The decision follows consultations with political figures after the October 27 election resulted in no clear winner. According to Euronews, factions totaling 67 members of the Knesset backed Eisenkot, while 46 supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Egypt Independent noted that Eisenkot’s support includes 19 members from two Arab parties.

Eisenkot has 28 days to present a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. Egypt Independent reports he has up to six weeks to assemble a coalition to replace Netanyahu, who has called for a unity government. While Eisenkot has secured more recommendations than Netanyahu, Gulf News reports his dependable parliamentary bloc currently accounts for 48 seats.

The path to forming a coalition involves significant challenges. Gulf News states that while 67 seats were recommended to the president, a majority of at least 61 lawmakers is required for a conventional majority government. Egypt Independent reports that Eisenkot is pushing to form a “national emergency government” and a minority government. If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister. Euronews notes that if all attempts by different candidates to form a government fail, another election is called.

Brief written by urgent.news from Globes English, Gulf News, Euronews, Egypt Independent — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.