Israeli Opposition Moves to Form Coalition After Election

Israeli opposition parties, led by Gadi Eisenkot of Yashar, are meeting Tuesday to form a coalition and secure a parliamentary majority after the October 26 elections, where no bloc won enough seats. Eisenkot's bloc secured 48 seats versus Netanyahu's Likud-led 53, with opposition leaders backing Eisenkot for prime minister and planning to replace Knesset speaker Amir Ohana with Yair Lapid. Netanyahu offered to lead a broad national unity government, excluding Arab parties he accuses of supporting terrorism, while President Isaac Herzog will meet party representatives Wednesday to grant the mandate to form a government.