Israel's new parliament, the Knesset, was sworn in on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the opposition moved at once to use its majority. Opposition parties hold 67 of the 120 seats. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, has the president's mandate to form a government and up to six weeks to do it.

His bloc won 48 seats in the Oct. 27 election and Netanyahu's bloc won 53, so neither has a majority alone. Eisenkot's party asked for a vote to replace Speaker Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu ally, with Matan Kahana, a former minister. Ohana has set the vote for the following Tuesday, the latest date possible, the Guardian reports.

The bloc also filed bills for an official inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, term limits for prime ministers and a reversal of the judicial changes made under Netanyahu. In a speech after the ceremony, Netanyahu attacked Arab politicians and asked rivals if they would depend on "those whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state." Eisenkot called the speech "divisive" and "hate-filled" and said he canceled a Wednesday meeting with Likud.

President Isaac Herzog urged lawmakers to avoid a second election. Netanyahu stays on as caretaker prime minister.

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Saturday that he is giving opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form a government after the Oct. 27 election. Eisenkot is a former military chief and leads the Yashar party. Neither side won a majority.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc took 53 seats, Eisenkot's bloc took 48, and Arab-led parties won a record 19. In consultations with the president, representatives of most parties recommended Eisenkot, and more lawmakers backed him than Netanyahu. Eisenkot is to receive a formal mandate at a ceremony on Sunday.

His time limit to build a coalition is 28 days, plus a possible extension of 14 more. If he fails, Herzog can name another candidate, and if no one succeeds, new elections follow. Netanyahu stays on as caretaker prime minister until a government is formed.

Shortly before the announcement, Netanyahu called in a video for a "national unity government." He warned against "hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters," an apparent reference to Arab-led parties. Eisenkot wrote on X that it is time for a "national emergency government."

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Israel's President Isaac Herzog began consultations on Wednesday evening with parties on who should try to form the next government. The election on Oct. 27 left neither side with a majority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset and the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48.

Arab-led parties won a record 19. Herzog received the official results from Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg. Herzog told party leaders that if they want to avoid a new election, they cannot expect to keep every commitment and promise.

He also said Arab Israelis must not be smeared. Sohlberg said efforts to cast doubt on the results were a real danger. The Shin Bet is investigating suspected foreign interference, and Sohlberg said the findings would not fundamentally change the outcome.

Five opposition leaders met in Herzliya and agreed to recommend Eisenkot to Herzog, but they remain divided over relying on Arab-led parties. Netanyahu has asked for a broad national government with himself at the head and ruled out a coalition with Ra'am and the Joint List. The person Herzog picks will get time to build a coalition, with a possible extension.

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Israelis voted on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in their first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. Final results, released early Friday, give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc 53 of the 120 Knesset seats. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, won 48.

Arab-led parties won a record 19. A majority needs 61, so neither bloc can govern alone. The opposition and Arab parties together total 67, but most Jewish opposition parties have ruled out relying on the Arab parties.

Netanyahu's Likud party said the election was "stolen" by Arab parties through bribery, threats and fraud, and alleged foreign involvement. Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, who heads the Central Elections Committee, asked the Shin Bet security agency to investigate suspected foreign interference and report within a week. Israeli media named Qatar, which denied it.

Police say they found no evidence supporting Likud's claims of widespread fraud, and the committee's acting director says there is no basis for allegations of systematic violations. The Shin Bet said its probe does not cast suspicion on the Arab community as a whole. Eisenkot accused Likud of trying to delegitimize the result.

President Isaac Herzog said an entire community must not be tarnished. Results are due to be certified and sent to the president next Wednesday, and Netanyahu remains in charge for now.

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