World·Israel
Israel's president taps Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form the next government
Israeli President Isaac Herzog chose opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government after factions representing 67 of the Knesset's 120 members recommended him; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got 46 and seven United Torah Judaism lawmakers backed neither, Fox News reported. Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, but his four-party bloc holds 48 seats, and some of the 67 endorsements came from Arab-led parties that his prospective partners have ruled out relying on. Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister, and Israel's Central Elections Committee said the integrity of the Oct. 27 vote was not compromised, according to Reuters as cited by Fox News.
Sources
- Fox NewsIsraeli president taps Netanyahu rival to form government as coalition battle looms