Arab party backs Eisenkot to form Israeli government, dealing setback to Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a setback as the Joint List, an Arab political alliance, announced support for Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, giving him 67 Knesset recommendations. Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, now leads Netanyahu in backing from the 120-seat parliament, including eight lawmakers from the Arab-led Ra'am party and 11 from the Joint List. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, but the ultra-Orthodox Degel HaTorah faction declined to recommend either candidate. President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with party leaders after accepting election results, with the choice expected between Netanyahu and Eisenkot. The selected candidate will have 28 days to form a government, or Israel could face another election early next year.