President Isaac Herzog must choose who will try to form Israel’s next government after factions representing more lawmakers recommended opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leaving the coalition path unresolved.
Factions representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, while factions representing 46 backed Netanyahu, Herzog said in televised remarks on Nov. 5. The figures show faction recommendations, not promises by lawmakers to support a future cabinet. EconoTimes previously reported Herzog’s faction tally.
Israel’s Oct. 27 election produced no clear winner. Herzog said disagreements within and between the political blocs had made it difficult to determine which candidate could gather enough support to govern.
The Independent reported Friday, citing reports in Israel that it did not identify, that Tony Blair is expected to meet Eisenkot. The outlet said Blair’s Israel visit centered on the Gaza ceasefire framework and included separate talks with Herzog and Netanyahu on Thursday. It described Blair as a senior member of the Board of Peace.
The Independent said the framework’s second phase is intended to have Israeli forces leave Gaza and Hamas give up its weapons. The outlet reported that the plan had stalled in recent months, with deadly Israeli attacks continuing in Gaza and Hamas not disarmed.
The Independent also reported that Eisenkot has criticized the Board of Peace framework, arguing it could leave Hamas in power. The outlet described his military strategy as more moderate than Netanyahu’s, while reporting that Eisenkot has said a government he leads would not allow a Palestinian state.
Herzog said he would hold further talks with some party leaders over the Israeli weekend before making his selection Sunday.
