Doha: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked former military chief and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government, dealing a setback to caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision follows the October 27 election, which left no political bloc with a clear majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Eisenkot received the backing of 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 who supported Netanyahu, while seven recommended no candidate. His support includes the 48-member Change Bloc and two Arab-led factions. Eisenkot's party secured 21 seats, while the wider Change Bloc won 48 seats in the election.

Eisenkot, who served as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff before entering politics in 2022, now has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. However, forming a stable government could prove difficult, as some parties in his camp are reluctant to rely on Arab lawmakers, while disagreements over military conscription could complicate negotiations with ultra-Orthodox parties.

Netanyahu has not conceded defeat and continues to push for a national unity government, opposing any administration dependent on Arab-led parties. Eisenkot, a strong critic of Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war, has ruled out joining a government led by the caretaker prime minister. If coalition negotiations fail, Israel could face another election, potentially in early 2027.

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