Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he will announce on Sunday whom he will task with trying to form a new government, after the opposition’s Gadi Eisenkot secured a commanding number of recommendations to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Herzog held a second day of consultations with political parties on Thursday after the October 27 election, in which neither Netanyahu – a polarising right-winger who has led Israel through three years of war – nor Eisenkot – a former military chief promising to restore national unity – secured enough votes for a majority.
Herzog will make his choice, but traditionally the mandate is given to the person recommended by more parliament members. Sixty-seven picked Eisenkot, 46 opted for Netanyahu, while seven abstained.