United Torah Judaism Recommends Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot

United Torah Judaism told Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday that it would recommend neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot to form a government, leaving Herzog to decide whom to give the first mandate after an inconclusive election. The party, which holds seven seats in the 120-member Knesset, had long aligned with Netanyahu. Its decision did not amount to support for Eisenkot, the opposition leader and former military chief. The president’s office said the party had decided not to recommend any lawmaker. Reports put Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and Eisenkot’s at 48, with Arab parties holding 19 seats. A majority requires 61. The totals reflect different groupings: some reports count Arab parties separately, while one places the Ra’am party’s backing within Eisenkot’s total. Ra’am recommended Eisenkot during the consultations, according to reports, while the Joint List’s position remained consequential to coalition prospects. Herzog was due to complete consultations with party representatives on Thursday. He had until November 11 to name a mandate-holder. The selected lawmaker would have 28 days to try to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If...