Yashar! urged President Isaac Herzog to give party leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel’s next government after factions representing more lawmakers recommended him than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In his Nov. 5 statement, Herzog said lawmakers represented by recommending factions totaled 67 for Eisenkot and 46 for Netanyahu. The figures describe faction recommendations, rather than lawmakers’ pledges to support a future cabinet.
A government needs support from at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 members. Eisenkot leads in recommendations, but the totals do not show whether he can assemble that majority.
Yashar! cast the recommendations as a sign that Israelis wanted change and lacked confidence in Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reported. The party also said no candidate had received as many recommendations since 2015.
Herzog said coalition prospects remained uncertain because of vetoes within and between blocs. He plans more talks with party leaders before deciding Sunday, Nov. 8, after saying he would name a lawmaker to try to form a government that day.
