Israel's parliament sworn in as Eisenkot tries to forge a government

Israel's parliament was sworn in on Tuesday, with Gadi Eisenkot tasked with assembling a government following a deadlocked general election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, in alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, secured 53 seats out of the Knesset's 120, falling short of a majority. Eisenkot's centre-right Yashar party and its partner factions hold 48 seats, leaving potential allies in Israel's Arab-led parties, which hold 19 seats, in opposition to Netanyahu.

The newly sworn-in parliament has the potential to address some of Eisenkot's campaign promises and allow him to replace the current Knesset speaker. Netanyahu called for a unity government to confront challenges like Iran's nuclear program, while Eisenkot proposed a commission to investigate the October 7 Hamas attack, a move supported by Arab parties but resisted by Netanyahu.

The parliament's speaker will be decided by Eisenkot's party, with opposition leader Matan Kahana proposed as an alternative to Netanyahu's nominee, Avigdor Lieberman. The government would require 61 votes to be approved, with support from Arab-Israeli lawmakers seen as a potential route to victory.