Eisenkot Favoured to Form Israeli Government as United Torah Judaism Refuses to Bless Netanyahu Camp
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Gadi Eisenkot is emerging as the leading contender to receive the mandate to assemble a coalition, after United Torah Judaism declined to endorse any candidate following the October 27 election.
President Isaac Herzog opened a second day of consultations with parties after Israel's October 27 election, in which neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor former military chief Gadi Eisenkot managed to secure a clear majority. Although the president may choose any lawmaker to attempt to form a government, custom gives preference to the person recommended by the most parties, placing Eisenkot in the strongest position.
United Torah Judaism, which had backed Netanyahu in the previous five elections, told Herzog that it would not recommend any Knesset member to form a government, according to a statement from the president's office. The party, which represents ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews, and Shas, which represents Sephardic ultra-Orthodox communities, have both supported Netanyahu's insistence on preserving exemptions from military service for religious students.
"In whatever government is next formed, our immediate item is sorting out the status of Torah students," United Torah Judaism lawmaker Isaac Pindrus said.
Eisenkot has indicated support for ending these exemptions, a position welcomed by those who see long-standing privileges for the ultra-Orthodox as indefensible and socially unfair. The Raam list, led by Arab-Israeli lawmaker Mansour Abbas, also recommended Eisenkot, increasing the possibility that an Arab-Israeli bloc could play a decisive role in the next coalition.
Netanyahu's bloc, including United Torah Judaism, holds 53 seats, compared with 48 for Eisenkot's bloc. If Herzog gives Eisenkot the mandate, he would have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a governing coalition; if he fails, Herzog would then give the mandate to another lawmaker.