Israel’s president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, with forming the next government following the October 27 election. Parties backing Eisenkot recommended him with 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc. He has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to secure at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. Eisenkot has ruled out a coalition with Arab-led parties and could reach the threshold by winning over the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas.