The anti-Netanyahu: Can Gadi Eisenkot give the world a different Israel?

Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, will now have 28 days, with the possibility of a 14-day extension, to put together a government before Herzog allows an alternative leader, most likely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to do the same. If this fails, then new elections would be called.

But as things stand, Eisenkot is unlikely to be able to form a majority government of the kind Netanyahu has relied upon to force through his right-wing policy agenda. He may have to rely upon the support of at least one of the two parties representing the ultra-Orthodox community, which have often been allies of Netanyahu.

Political challenges

It will also be critical for him to persuade some of the more right-wing elements of his opposition bloc to get the support of Arab parties outside the government. How far he will be able to go in this is uncertain for a man whom observers described as less comfortable with the subterfuge and political guile often attributed to Netanyahu.

So far, any support from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism Party, which has broken with its traditional ally Shas in declining to endorse Netanyahu, is likely to come in return for the continuation of the de facto shield afforded to young ultra-Orthodox men who refuse military service.