Gadi Eisenkot expected to receive mandate to form Israeli government

Gadi Eisenkot is expected to receive the mandate from the president to form the next government after securing a majority of recommendations from Knesset factions, though coalition partners have conflicting demands.

The round of consultations at the President's House for assigning the mandate to form the government begins in an unusual order, from the smallest factions to the largest. The assessment is that Gadi Eisenkot will receive the highest number of recommendations, with 67 recommenders versus 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu, but United Torah Judaism and the Arab parties have not yet decided. The consultations will begin today with Religious Zionism-Identity, Shas, and Yisrael Beiteinu, and will continue tomorrow with the remaining factions. Even if Eisenkot receives the mandate, he will have to face coalition challenges, including Lieberman's position opposing a minority government relying on the Arab parties, and the demands of United Torah Judaism regarding conscription. The article reviews the possible constitutional paths, including the possibility of failure and going to new elections.