Israel’s president picks Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form government
Israel's president Isaac Herzog has chosen Gadi Eisenkot, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government following a deadlocked election.
Herzog's office announced on Saturday night that he had informed Eisenkot "of his intention to task him with forming a government." The formal appointment will take place in an official ceremony on Sunday at the president's residence in Jerusalem.
Election deadlock
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is fighting to hold on to office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in an election on 27 October but still emerged as the largest bloc in parliament.
Political challenges
An anti-Netanyahu grouping led by Eisenkot, an ex-military chief, has refused to join forces with Arab parties who could hand it a majority. However, Arab leaders, angered by policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, still nominated Eisenkot during marathon talks with Herzog.
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