Israeli president gives opposition leader Eisenkot first chance to form government

Israel's president has asked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to try to form a new government, handing the former military chief the first mandate to build a coalition and dealing a setback to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision followed marathon consultations between the president and most of the country's main parties, a process that gave each party the chance to state whom it would back for the role.

The move reflects the outcome of an election in which neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu secured a clear majority. That result leaves no single bloc able to govern on its own and places the onus on Eisenkot, a leading opposition candidate with a background in the military, to win enough parliamentary support to form a cabinet. Eisenkot's stated aim is to oust Netanyahu from the prime minister's office, a goal that will shape the terms he can offer potential partners.

The challenge ahead is considerable. Eisenkot must assemble a coalition from parties that differ widely in their positions, and it remains unclear whether he can secure enough votes in parliament. Each party that joins or refuses to join his bloc will influence the balance of power, and the outcome of the coalition talks is still open. No government has yet been formed, and the coming weeks of negotiation will determine whether Eisenkot can convert the president's mandate into a working majority.

The president's recommendation marks a turning point in the post-election period, as the question of who will lead the next government moves from the ballot box into negotiations among rival parties. For Netanyahu, who has led the country for much of the past decade, the decision represents a significant blow to his effort to remain in power. Whether the mandate ultimately succeeds will depend on the bargaining that follows, and on whether the parties on which Eisenkot relies can agree on a shared program for government.

Source: pbs.org

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