🔶 Israel’s president Eisenkot was tasked with forming the government

Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, announced on Saturday (16 Aban) that he has decided to hand responsibility for forming the new government to Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of the General Staff and leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party.

The office of the Israeli presidency said that Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision and that an official ceremony transferring the mandate to form the government is expected to be held on Sunday (17 Aban) at the president’s residence in Jerusalem.

The decision was made after several days of Herzog’s consultations with the parties that made it into the Knesset. During these talks, representatives of parties that together hold 67 parliamentary seats proposed Eisenkot to form the government. In return, Benjamin Netanyahu, the current prime minister, secured support from 46 lawmakers, while seven lawmakers also refused to introduce their candidate.

Israel’s parliamentary election on October 27 ended without either of the two main political blocs obtaining the required majority to form a government.

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