Joint List, Ra'am Back Eisenkot for PM With 19 Seats as Herzog Seeks to Avert 5th Vote
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Nov 1
Joint List, Ra'am Back Eisenkot for PM With 19 Seats as Herzog Seeks to Avert 5th Vote
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Nov 1
Summary
Joint List and Ra'am plan to recommend Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister in consultations starting Wednesday, a move that would likely make him the first candidate President Isaac Herzog tasks with forming a government.
Nineteen Arab-party seats added to the opposition's 48 would give Eisenkot 67 recommendations, even though his anti-Netanyahu bloc and Netanyahu's bloc both fell short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern.
Herzog urged party leaders to accept the results and show flexibility, warning that political entrenchment could push Israel into another election; the president can give a nominee 28 days plus a 14-day extension.
Eisenkot has proposed a broad Zionist coalition and ruled Arab parties out of the government itself, leaving options such as outside support, a minority government or a unity deal while the Knesset is due to be sworn in on Nov. 10.