Israel Backs Eisenkot for Premier: What His Government Could Change

A majority of 67 out of 120 Israeli parliament members have recommended former military chief Gadi Eisenkot for the mandate to form a government, though his path to becoming prime minister remains uncertain. President Isaac Herzog is expected to task the 66-year-old opposition politician with forming a coalition on Sunday, giving him 28 days to succeed, with a possible 14-day extension. Outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to attempt political maneuvers to block the transition, and if Eisenkot fails, other candidates would get subsequent opportunities before new elections are triggered. Experts say an Eisenkot government would not automatically mean a fundamental shift in security and foreign policy, as he is considered conservative on security matters. However, he differs from Netanyahu by rejecting the overthrow of Iran's leadership as a war goal, plans to crack down harder on settler violence in the West Bank, and has pledged to strengthen ties with the United States.