Herzog Selects Eisenkot to Form Government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected former military chief and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to make the first attempt at forming a government after the October 27 election left no bloc with a majority; Eisenkot is due to receive the mandate on Sunday. Lawmakers recommended him by 67 votes to 46, while seven backed neither candidate; 19 of the 67 recommendations came from Arab-led parties, whose role in a coalition is contentious. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a coalition and may request a 14-day extension; if he fails, Benjamin Netanyahu could get another opportunity. Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, compared with 48 for Eisenkot’s Jewish opposition alliance, and Netanyahu has called for a unity government including his current coalition allies. Eisenkot has urged parties to form an emergency government under his leadership, but opposition from some potential partners to relying on Arab-led parties leaves a governing majority uncertain.