Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded consultations and authorized former IDF
chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot to try to form a government, the president’s office
said. Parties representing 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot; parties
representing 46 recommended incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; a
7-seat party made no recommendation. Herzog met with multiple political figures,
including Netanyahu and Eisenkot, and informed Eisenkot of the authorization
decision. Under Israel’s Basic Law on the Government, the designated lawmaker
has 28 days to form a cabinet, extendable once by up to 14 days.
