Israeli ex-army chief Eisenkot gets 67 recommendations for PM, Herzog to decide Sunday

Israeli former army chief Gadi Eisenkot has secured 67 parliamentary recommendations for prime minister, compared to 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of President Isaac Herzog's mandate decision on Sunday. The numbers give Eisenkot a clear advantage, though coalition formation remains uncertain. Herzog completed consultations Thursday, noting mutual vetoes between and within political blocs complicate the process. The Arab Joint List's support for Eisenkot proved decisive, though their 19 seats back only the mandate, not necessarily government participation. Netanyahu's coalition fell to 53 seats, losing its parliamentary majority. Netanyahu disputes the electoral process with unsubstantiated claims rejected by election authorities. Eisenkot would have 28 days, extendable by 14, to form a government, with failure potentially triggering new elections.