Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday evening formally tasked Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yesh Atid party, with forming the new Israeli government, succeeding Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
The assignment came after Eisenkot received the recommendations of 67 Knesset members, against 46 members who recommended tasking Netanyahu, following consultations Herzog held with parliamentary blocs to assess the candidates' chances of forming a government coalition.
Under Israeli law, Eisenkot has a 28-day deadline to form a government coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension by decision of the president.
Despite Eisenkot's lead in the number of recommendations, his task faces obstacles related to disagreements between parties and their positions on the composition of the government coalition, as the recommendations do not mean he holds a parliamentary majority that guarantees the formation of a government.
