Explainer
Can Gadi Eisenkot assemble a majority in a divided Knesset?
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Israel's president hands the mandate to Gadi Eisenkot in Jerusalem on Sunday, after an October election left no bloc with a majority.
Jerusalem
Factions holding 67 seats recommended Eisenkot, against 46 for Netanyahu, but recommendations guarantee nothing.
- Eisenkot67 seats
- Netanyahu46 seats
The Knesset has 120 seats. Netanyahu's camp holds 53, Eisenkot's bloc 48, and the Arab lists 19. A majority needs 61, so Eisenkot must look beyond his own bloc.
120
= 1 seat
- Netanyahu bloc53
- Eisenkot bloc48
- Arab lists19
Majority: 61
He has 28 days to build a coalition. If that fails, another MK gets a turn, and if that fails too, at least 61 members can ask the president to name someone else. Only if every attempt fails is the Knesset dissolved and Israelis return to the polls.
28
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The story
Herzog gives opposition leader Eisenkot first chance to form Israel's next governmentRead the article
Based on reports by
- adevarul.roGadi Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu's rival, has been designated to form a new government in Israel
- ΣΚΑΪIsrael: Blow for Netanyahu - Mandate to form a government to Eisenkot
- Stirile ProTVBenjamin Netanyahu risks losing power after the election. The opposition gets the chance to form the new government
- N-tvNetanyahu does not give up: Eisenkot wants to form a national emergency government
- AGIEisenkot, the general at the head of Israel's next government
- BBCIsraeli President, opposition leader Eisenkot given mandate to form coalition... Will Netanyahu step down?