Kathmandu [Nepal], November 8 – Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, increasing the possibility of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu losing power after years in office.
Herzog announced the decision on Saturday evening following consultations with political parties represented in the newly elected Knesset. He is scheduled to formally hand Eisenkot the mandate at a ceremony on Sunday.
Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails Netanyahu could be given another opportunity.
A total of 67 lawmakers have backed Eisenkot for prime minister compared with 46, supporting Netanyahu. The seven-member United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party has not endorsed either side.
Eisenkot said on social media platform X that the time had come to establish a national emergency government.
However, forming a coalition remains challenging, with disagreements within the opposition over cooperation with Arab-led parties and ultra-Orthodox factions.
Netanyahu has proposed a national unity government involving all parties from his previous coalition including far-right and ultra-Orthodox groups. Eisenkot’s Yashar party has rejected the proposal saying Netanyahu must abandon his alliance with extremist factions.
Meanwhile, discussions between opposition parties and ultra-Orthodox groups have raised the possibility of a coalition without Netanyahu. Differences over compulsory military service, however remain a major obstacle to negotiations.
