Eisenkot set to receive mandate as Herzog wraps up coalition consultations

Gadi Eisenkot is expected to receive the presidential mandate to form Israel's next government, as consultations concluded with broad support from multiple parties. President Isaac Herzog will now decide which Knesset member has the best chance of assembling a governing coalition. Eisenkot secured backing from Yisrael Beytenu, the Democrats, Ra'am, the Joint List, and B'Yachad, while Netanyahu gained support from Religious Zionist Party-Zehut, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit. United Torah Judaism declined to recommend a candidate, and the two largest parties were not consulted. Under Basic Law, the selected candidate has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If unsuccessful, a second candidate gets 28 days without extension, followed by a 21-day period for 61 MKs to propose a nominee, or the Knesset dissolves.