Israeli President Isaac Herzog has formally handed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form a new government following the country’s inconclusive election.
The Yashar party leader and former military chief will now begin coalition negotiations aimed at replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, whose religious-nationalist bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the 27 October vote.
Announcing his decision, Herzog said he had consulted representatives of all political parties before choosing the candidate he considered best placed to assemble a government, Sky News reported.
Herzog meets Eisenkot in Jerusalem on 6 November. Photo: Arnon Bossani / President’s Residence.
Eisenkot has an initial 28 days to secure a coalition agreement, with a possible two-week extension. Receiving the mandate does not automatically make him prime minister: he must first build sufficient parliamentary support.
Negotiations are expected to be difficult because of divisions among potential partners. If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu could be given an opportunity to form a coalition.
Netanyahu’s outgoing government remains in a caretaker role until a new administration takes office.
