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Israel’s president on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival, to try to form a new government, Israeli media reported, following a deadlocked election that left neither man with a clear path to power.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, is fighting to hold onto office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in an October 27 election but still emerged as the largest bloc in parliament.
Former Israeli army chief and Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot greets supporters in Tel Aviv. Getty
An anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Eisenkot, an ex-military chief, has refused to join forces with Arab parties who could hand it a majority.
But Arab leaders, angered by policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, still nominated Eisenkot during marathon talks with President Isaac Herzog.
