Eisenkot Leads Netanyahu in Recommendations for Israel Mandate

Gadi Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 incoming lawmakers after consultations with President Isaac Herzog on November 5, putting him ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu, who received 46. The tally gives Eisenkot more support for the mandate to form Israel’s next government, but Herzog has not assigned it and the recommendations do not guarantee a coalition or votes in a confidence motion. The 67 recommendations include 48 lawmakers from the opposition bloc, eight from the Arab-majority Raam party and 11 from the Joint List. The 120-member Knesset has a 61-seat majority threshold. Netanyahu’s broader national-religious bloc won 53 seats in the October 27 election, while the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot won 48. United Torah Judaism, a Netanyahu ally, declined to recommend either candidate. The Joint List said its three factions unanimously backed Eisenkot to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power. The alliance has also acknowledged disagreements with Eisenkot. It has ruled out formally joining an Eisenkot-led coalition, while reporting describes its potential support as external. Raam has said it is willing to join a coalition. The distinction between...