Arab parties back Eisenkot for prime minister, challenging Netanyahu's grip on power

Israel's Arab-majority parties have endorsed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister, giving him 67 parliamentary recommendations against Benjamin Netanyahu's 46, though forming a government remains uncertain due to coalition disagreements and the need for a 61-seat majority. The Joint List and Raam backed Eisenkot during consultations with President Isaac Herzog, marking a rare formal endorsement by Arab parties. Eisenkot's own allies disagree on cooperating with them, and his bloc plus United Torah Judaism would hold only 55 seats, short of the required majority. Netanyahu has disputed the election's legitimacy without evidence and rejected any government relying on Arab parties. He also faces an ongoing corruption trial, and Herzog will assign the mandate on Sunday, with Eisenkot having 28 days to form a coalition.