Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen former army chief Gadi Eisenkot to try to form the country’s next government, passing over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an election left both rival blocs short of a majority.

Herzog informed Eisenkot of the decision on Saturday evening and will formally give him the mandate at a ceremony on Sunday, Al Jazeera reported, citing a statement from the president’s spokesperson.

Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, will have 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. A government needs the support of at least 61 lawmakers in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset.

Following consultations with political parties, Herzog received recommendations for Eisenkot from parties representing 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Netanyahu, according to the statement.

Those recommendations do not mean a governing coalition is secured. In the October 27 election, Eisenkot’s four-party alliance won 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc took 53. Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won the remaining 19 seats.

Al Jazeera reported that Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with the Arab-led parties, whose participation would give his alliance 67 seats. Securing the backing of the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas would instead bring him to exactly 61.

The decision gives Eisenkot an opportunity to replace Netanyahu, but whether he can assemble the required parliamentary support remains unresolved. Eisenkot led Israel’s military from 2015 to 2019.

Sources