Israel President Tasks Opposition Leader Eisenkot With Forming Government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new coalition government after neither bloc secured a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for the premiership and Netanyahu 46 during consultations, giving Eisenkot 28 days to build an administration with a potential 14-day extension.

Netanyahu's Likud party and allies won 53 seats while Eisenkot's bloc secured 48, with Arab-led alliances winning an unprecedented 19 seats and positioning themselves as potential kingmakers.