President Isaac Herzog Assigns Gadi Eisenkot to Forge Israel’s Next Government

Israel’s president has selected Gadi Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief rival, to attempt forming a new government, following a deadlocked election that left neither figure with an immediate path to power.

Herzog’s office announced that Isaac Herzog notified Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot of his mandate to form a government, stating that the formal appointment would occur during a scheduled ceremony on Sunday at the president’s Jerusalem residence.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, continues striving to retain office despite his religious-nationalist coalition losing its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election, though it remains the largest single bloc in the Knesset.

A coalition opposed to Netanyahu, led by Eisenkot and his military background, has ruled out partnering with Arab parties, as such an alliance could potentially hand the bloc a parliamentary majority.

Despite Arab leaders’ dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s policies and his far-right allies, they have nominated Eisenkot during extended negotiations with Herzog.

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