Israeli president taps Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form government after inconclusive election
Summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the Yashar party, with trying to form a new government, a setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The October 27 election left neither bloc with a majority: Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 of the 120 Knesset seats, short of the 61 needed, while Eisenkot's bloc won 48 and the two Arab-led parties won 19 between them. In consultations, 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot and 46 recommended Netanyahu, while United Torah Judaism declined to recommend Netanyahu without endorsing Eisenkot. Eisenkot is due to formally receive the mandate on Sunday and has 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu has called for a unity government headed by him, which Eisenkot has rejected. Coalition talks are expected to be difficult, with reported divisions over the Arab parties and conscription. Accounts differ on whether the Arab-led parties backed Eisenkot or whether he has declined to join forces with them.
Timeline
CBS News
Source ↗CBS News reports that Israel's president has tapped opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who ran against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to form a government, though neither won a clear majority.
The New York Times
Source ↗The New York Times reports that Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and opposition leader, has been tapped to try to form a government and hopes to succeed Netanyahu as prime minister after an inconclusive election.
The Straits Times
Source ↗The Straits Times reports that Israel's president picked Netanyahu's rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form a government, with 28 days to do so and a possible 14-day extension.
Deutsche Welle
Source ↗Deutsche Welle reports that President Isaac Herzog picked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of an anti-Netanyahu alliance, to take the first shot at forming a government, and that tricky coalition talks are expected.
South China Morning Post
Source ↗The South China Morning Post reports that Herzog said he would task Eisenkot with forming the next government, a step Netanyahu's rivals see as a first move to remove the country's longest-serving prime minister.
Middle East Eye
Source ↗Middle East Eye reports that Herzog chose Eisenkot over Netanyahu, that Eisenkot is due to receive the mandate on Sunday with 28 days to build a coalition, and that both Arab-led parties backed him during consultations.
NPR
Source ↗NPR reports that Eisenkot ran as Netanyahu's main rival, that neither side won enough support to command a majority, and that Israel's main parties have recommended Eisenkot form a new government.
The Hindu
Source ↗The Hindu reports that Eisenkot has declined to join forces with the Arab parties, whose support would give him a majority of seats in parliament.
Axios
Source ↗Axios reports that Herzog will task Eisenkot, leader of the opposition Yashar party, with forming a new government and giving him 28 days, after 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot and 46 recommended Netanyahu.
BBC
Source ↗The BBC reports that Israel's president has tasked opposition leader Eisenkot with forming a government, as neither Netanyahu's bloc nor that of his rival secured a majority in last week's election.
Fox News
Source ↗Fox News reports that Eisenkot secured 67 Knesset endorsements to Netanyahu's 46, and that deep coalition divisions over Arab parties and conscription cloud his path to forming a government.
Deutsche Welle
Source ↗Deutsche Welle reports that Herzog has officially tasked Eisenkot with trying to form a government, a path it describes as full of political challenges for replacing Netanyahu as prime minister.
Financial Times
Source ↗The Financial Times reports that Herzog's decision gives opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot 28 days to attempt to put together a ruling coalition.
Al Jazeera
Source ↗Al Jazeera reports that Israel's president picked Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, passing over Benjamin Netanyahu.
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