Eisenkot secures Joint List support, nears Israeli government formation

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is close to forming a government after securing support from the Joint List, an Arab-led alliance, bringing his expected backing to 67 of the Knesset's 120 seats. He is set to receive the mandate from President Isaac Herzog later today. The Joint List announced it will recommend Eisenkot to Herzog, following the Ra'am party's earlier endorsement, which raised his support to 56 lawmakers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, holding 53 seats, may struggle to secure the necessary backing. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats in last week's elections. Herzog is concluding consultations with party leaders and will select a candidate, likely Eisenkot or Netanyahu, who will have 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.