Herzog tasks Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government
Israel's president has asked Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to try to assemble a governing coalition, a move that puts Benjamin Netanyahu's political future in the balance after last month's inconclusive election.
Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, has asked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, to attempt to form a government. Herzog's office informed Eisenkot of the decision on Saturday night, handing him the first opportunity to build a coalition capable of commanding a majority in the Knesset.
The move follows an election last month that left Netanyahu's coalition without a majority. Since the vote, the Knesset has been deadlocked, and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has a clear path to power. The result has pushed Israel into a period of uncertainty over who will lead the country and on what terms.
Eisenkot now faces the task of assembling a coalition from a fragmented parliament. The outcome of his talks is not yet known. Whether he succeeds will determine not only the composition of the next government but also the political future of Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for much of the past two decades and whose fate now rests on the success or failure of his main challenger.
For Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial but who is responsible for selecting the candidate most likely to command the confidence of the Knesset, the decision marks a key step in the post-election process. The president's choice reflects the view that Eisenkot is the figure best placed to attempt a coalition, although there is no guarantee that he will be able to secure the support he needs.
The stalemate has left Israeli voters and political observers waiting to see whether a workable majority can emerge. Until Eisenkot's coalition talks produce a result, the country's political direction remains open.
Source: theguardian.com
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