‘Israel Has No Time To Waste’: Eisenkot Takes First Shot At Replacing Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog (right) with Gadi Eisenkot.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government, giving him 28 days to build a coalition that would replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist administration.

Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, secured the backing of 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset, compared with 46 who recommended Netanyahu for the task. Herzog said Eisenkot had received the "clear and unequivocal support" of a majority of lawmakers as the candidate with the best chance of forming a government, while acknowledging that Likud remains the largest party in parliament.

Eisenkot's mandate, formally handed over at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, can be extended by a further 14 days if necessary.

Herzog urged the opposition leader to form a government that would represent all Israelis, regardless of whether they had supported the outgoing administration or the parties seeking to replace it.

"I wish with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection, and healing among all parts of the nation," the president said.

In his address, Eisenkot described Israel as facing a "challenging and fateful state of emergency", citing ongoing…

Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/world