Netanyahu challenger Eisenkot to be tasked with forming new Israeli government
Gadi Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a coalition.
Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of the Israel Defense Forces and the main challenger to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been tasked with forming a government in Israel a week and a half after parliamentary elections resulted in no clear winner.
A statement from the Israeli President's Office released Saturday said President Isaac Herzog had concluded several days of in-depth talks with political figures and will task Eisenkot, the head of the Yashar party, with forming a new government.
During the consultations, factions totaling 67 members of the Israeli parliament supported Eisenkot, and a bloc of 46 members supported Netanyahu, who leads the Likud party, according to the president's office.
The Israeli President's Office said Eisenkot will be invited to the president's residence on Sunday where he will be formally tasked with forming the government.
Once that has happened, he will have 28 days to form a new government, with a possible 14-day extension.
Following the Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, the coalitions of both Netanyahu and Eisenkot failed to secure a majority of 61 seats in the parliament, the Knesset.
Security issues and the ongoing conflict with Iran -- as well as questions over Netanyahu's management of the war in Gaza -- dominated the election campaign.
Shortly after the announcement from the president's office, Eisenkot posted a photo on social media depicting him shaking hands with Herzog alongside a statement reading: "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we prove ourselves worthy."
Prior to the announcement from the presidents office, Netanyahu posted a video on social media calling for the formation of a national unity government.
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