President Herzog faces key choice as Israel struggles to form government
Summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due to choose who gets the first chance to form a government after an October election produced no majority. Gadi Eisenkot received more lawmakers’ endorsements than Benjamin Netanyahu, but has ruled out bringing Arab-led parties into his government, leaving both potential coalitions uncertain.Key Facts
- The Knesset has 120 seats, and a majority government requires 61.
- During consultations with Herzog, 67 lawmakers endorsed Eisenkot and 46 endorsed Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious alliance holds 53 seats; four Jewish-led parties backing Eisenkot hold 48; Arab-led parties hold 19.
- Eisenkot has ruled out bringing the Arab-led parties into government, though they endorsed him during consultations.
- United Torah Judaism withheld its endorsement of Netanyahu over the issue of military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis.
- Shas endorsed Netanyahu, while United Torah Judaism signalled it might support Eisenkot under certain conditions.
- Israeli law allows a government with fewer than 61 seats to take office if it wins a parliamentary confidence vote.
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