President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with leading coalition talks after the centrist leader garnered 67 endorsements compared to 46 for Netanyahu. Despite securing the initial mandate, Eisenkot's immediate four-party bloc controls just 48 seats against 53 for Netanyahu's right-wing alliance, leaving Arab-led factions holding a decisive 19 seats. To resolve the impasse, Eisenkot has proposed an emergency administration founded on mandatory service rules and anti-terror designations, though several partners resist these terms. Netanyahu will continue running state affairs in a caretaker capacity until a final agreement is concluded.
Key points
Gadi Eisenkot faces a complex mathematical path to power because his core bloc holds only…: Gadi Eisenkot faces a complex mathematical path to power because his core bloc holds only 48 of the 120 Knesset seats.
Disagreements surrounding military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox groups remain a major ob…: Disagreements surrounding military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox groups remain a major obstacle to assembling a broad emergency coalition.
Benjamin Netanyahu retains executive authority as caretaker prime minister while rival le…: Benjamin Netanyahu retains executive authority as caretaker prime minister while rival leaders negotiate over rival governing pacts.
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- Published
Israel's new parliament will be sworn in on Tuesday, as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot seeks to oust caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The former army chief was tasked with forming a government by the president, after he received the backing of 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 46 for Netanyahu.
But Eisenkot faces an uphill struggle. His bloc of four parties won 48 seats in last month's election, while Netanyahu's bloc won 53, leaving both short of a majority. He has 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible two-week extension.
Almost half of the MKs being sworn in did not serve in the previous parliament, while Arab-led parties have a record number of seats.
The outcome of the election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, means there is a period of uncertainty over who will form the next government. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until then - a process which could take from days to months.
One of the most dramatic results was the performance of Israel's two Arab-led alliances…
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