President Herzog faces key choice as Israel struggles to form government

President Isaac Herzog must decide who will get the first chance to form Israel’s next government after October’s election left every bloc short of a majority. Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot has more lawmakers’ endorsements than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but his refusal to bring Arab-led parties into government leaves his path to power uncertain.

Eisenkot was endorsed by 67 of the 120 Knesset members consulted, compared with 46 for Netanyahu; 61 seats are needed for a majority. Netanyahu’s alliance holds 53 seats, while four Jewish-led parties supporting Eisenkot have 48 and Arab-led parties have 19. Eisenkot could seek support from ultra-Orthodox parties or form a minority government with outside backing, while a unity government is another possibility.