Israeli President to pick government formateur by Sunday after lawmakers back Eisenkot

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will name a candidate to form the next government by Sunday, after a majority of lawmakers endorsed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog announced this on Thursday following talks with parties in the 120-seat Knesset. Some 67 lawmakers backed Eisenkot, a former military chief, while 46 supported Netanyahu. Herzog noted mutual vetoes between and within blocs complicate the decision, and he will hold personal talks with party leaders before making his pick on Sunday. Israel’s October 27 election left no clear path to a majority for either candidate. Netanyahu’s Likud won 27 seats, but his coalition totaled 53, while Eisenkot’s alliance won 48, with Arab-led parties gaining 19 seats and recommending Eisenkot despite his exclusion of them.