Israeli Coalition Talks Favor Centrist Eisenkot Over Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will announce Sunday who will be tasked with forming the next government, with centrist Gadi Eisenkot appearing favored over outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the October 27 elections that yielded no clear majority. Herzog said Netanyahu has support from 46 lawmakers versus 67 for Eisenkot, who can count on backing from two main Arab Israeli parties that made significant electoral gains. Netanyahu lost support from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party over tensions regarding religious student conscription. Eisenkot faces challenges forming a majority without alienating Jewish voters traumatized by the October 7 attack, as some opposition leaders reject alliances with Arab parties. Herzog reportedly works behind the scenes toward a national unity government excluding Arab and ultra-Orthodox factions.