Israel’s Opposition Backs Eisenkot to Form Government

Israel’s five opposition party leaders agreed Tuesday to recommend Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the first mandate to form a government, while pledging to coordinate efforts to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and avoid another election. The agreement followed a meeting in Herzliya. The leaders said they would act quickly to establish a government, but their path to a parliamentary majority remains uncertain. The opposition bloc holds 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while Netanyahu’s bloc has 53. The two Arab parties hold 19 seats combined; 61 are needed for a majority. The five leaders are Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan. Their joint statement said they would recommend Eisenkot for the mandate and coordinate their next steps. It also set out principles for a proposed government, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and designating Hamas a terrorist organisation. The seat totals leave the opposition short of a majority without support from outside its bloc. The leaders remain divided over cooperation with Arab parties. Golan has publicly supported working with them, while Liberman has...