Netanyahu's Grip Under Pressure as Rival Gadi Eisenkot Gains Majority Support
What Happened
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced that he will select a candidate on Sunday, November 8, to attempt to form the country's next government following the October 27 elections. Opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 46 backing incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, neither political bloc has a clear parliamentary majority, making coalition negotiations challenging.
Key Takeaways
Eisenkot's stronger parliamentary backing signals a potential shift in Israel's political leadership. However, forming a stable coalition remains uncertain due to disagreements among political parties. What happens next? The candidate selected by Herzog will get 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a government. Netanyahu will continue as caretaker Prime Minister until a new government takes office.