{
  "id": 18424145,
  "title": "Netanyahu rival Eisenkot tipped to seek Israeli government with backing of Arab lists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/netanyahu-rival-eisenkot-tipped-to-seek-israeli-government-with",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-06T02:10:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3373476/netanyahu-rival-eisenkot-tipped-seek-israeli-government-backing-arab-lists"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israeli President Isaac Herzog is poised to appoint Gadi Eisenkot as the leader who may form a new government, following the October 27 election where Eisenkot secured 67 recommendations, while Benjamin Netanyahu garnered 46. This comes after neither leader managed to secure a majority. The Arab-majority lists, which secured 19 seats in the election, have also endorsed Eisenkot. However, the opposition's Avigdor Liberman has indicated he will not join a government reliant on Arab party support, citing their refusal to label Hamas as a \"terror group.\" Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism, a right-wing party that previously backed Netanyahu, has declined to recommend him again as premier. They have expressed their intent to work towards ending exemptions for military service for religious students. The opposition has been critical of these exemptions, which have resulted in reservists serving multiple tours since the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. If Herzog appoints Eisenkot as the new prime minister, he will have 28 days to form a government, with a potential 14-day extension. If he fails to do so within this timeframe, Herzog will appoint another lawmaker to attempt forming a government.",
  "summary": "Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he will announce on Sunday whom he will task with trying to form a new government, after the opposition’s Gadi Eisenkot secured a commanding number of recommendations to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog held a second day of consultations with political parties on Thursday after the October 27 election, in which neither Netanyahu - a polarising…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ynetnews",
        "title": "Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 67-46, but Herzog delays mandate decision until Sunday",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/eisenkot-leads-netanyahu-67-46-but-herzog-delays-mandate-decision",
        "published": "2026-11-05T20:42:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Eisenkot secures more parliamentary support to replace Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/eisenkot-secures-more-parliamentary-support-to-replace-netanyahu",
        "published": "2026-11-05T21:55:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Israel's former chief of staff Eisenkot in strong position to replace Netanyahu as new PM",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/israels-former-chief-of-staff-eisenkot-in-strong-position-to-replace",
        "published": "2026-11-06T00:00:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Israel president to name PM candidate on Sunday as Arab parties back Gadi Eisenkot over Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/israel-president-to-name-pm-candidate-on-sunday-as-arab-parties-back",
        "published": "2026-11-06T00:37:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}