President Herzog appoints Gadi Eisenkot to attempt formation of Israeli government

President Isaac Herzog is set to hand former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel's next government at a ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Eisenkot will have an initial 28-day period, which the president may extend by another 14 days, to assemble a coalition that commands at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

The decision follows consultations with elected lawmakers, during which Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for premiership, compared with 46 for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the Times of Israel. Netanyahu's Likud party won 27 seats, the largest single party, but his bloc fell short of a majority with 53 seats.

Eisenkot's Yashar party secured 21 seats, and two Arab parties, together holding 19 seats, backed his candidacy in the presidential consultations. He has outlined four conditions for any coalition partner: recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state; adherence to the values of the Declaration of Independence; support for universal military or national service; and a stance that Hamas is a terrorist organization whose military capabilities must be destroyed.

Potential coalition scenarios include a minority government supported by Arab lawmakers, an agreement with ultra-Orthodox parties, or a broad unity arrangement that would involve Netanyahu's Likud. Eisenkot has previously stated he will not serve in a government led by Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has called for a national unity government and warned against a coalition reliant on Arab parties, describing such a configuration as unable to confront Hamas or protect Israeli soldiers.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted time, the president may assign the mandate to another candidate, and the process could continue for up to roughly 100 days before a new election becomes necessary.