Arab Parties Back Gadi Eisenkot for Israeli Prime Minister

Arab parties have announced support for Gadi Eisenkot as Israel's next prime minister, bypassing Benjamin Netanyahu during ongoing government formation talks with President Isaac Herzog. The Arab parties' backing significantly boosts Eisenkot's chances, potentially securing him 67 seats in the 120-member Knesset, exceeding the 61 needed for a majority. However, divisions among coalition partners over accepting Arab party support remain an obstacle. Notably, Netanyahu's long-time ultra-Orthodox allies did not recommend him, reducing his support to 46 seats. The October 27 election left neither Netanyahu's far-right bloc nor Eisenkot's national unity alliance with a clear majority, making the 19 Arab party seats crucial.