Israel: Herzog hands Eisenkot the mandate to form a government, passing over Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former army chief of staff, the mandate to form a government, passing over incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The formal appointment took place on Sunday. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.

No bloc won a majority in the general election held on 27 October, after which the president held consultations with the parties. Sixty-seven members of parliament, including the Arab parties, backed Eisenkot, while only 46 supported Netanyahu.

UPDATE: Receiving the mandate does not guarantee a transfer of power. Eight linked challenges now face Eisenkot: keeping a coalition together, dealing with Iran, adapting to changes in US politics, countering Netanyahu's opposition, repairing foreign relations, meeting Arab citizens' local needs, settling differences over Palestinian policy and resolving military-service exemptions.

The coalition arithmetic is particularly difficult. Yashar and three other Jewish opposition parties won 48 seats, so Arab-party support is needed both to form a government and sustain it. Those parties want improvements in housing permits, public safety and local services, but defence spending puts pressure on the budget. Their backing also reflects a wish to remove Netanyahu rather than agreement with Eisenkot's security policies.

Iran and the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts could expose differences between potential partners. Efforts to improve foreign relations may also meet resistance from right-wing supporters. At home, Eisenkot's position that all communities should share military service conflicts with parties seeking exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Coalition negotiations must therefore secure a parliamentary majority while limiting further social division.