Israel's President to Decide on Netanyahu or Eisenkot as Prime Minister

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will announce on Sunday whether Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot will get the mandate to form the next government after election consultations. Consultations showed 67 lawmakers backed Eisenkot and 46 supported Netanyahu, but Herzog cited mutual vetoes between blocs complicating the decision. Neither candidate secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Netanyahu’s Likud won 27 seats, his bloc 53, while Eisenkot’s coalition took 48. Arab-led parties gained 19 seats and endorsed Eisenkot, though he ruled out governing with them. Allegations of electoral fraud were dismissed by authorities.