United Torah Judaism surprises Netanyahu; Eisenkot leads in government formation efforts
According to Alhurra, as Israeli President Isaac Herzog continues consultations to form a new government, recent developments in the Knesset have shifted the political landscape. The 'United Torah Judaism' party, representing the Haredim, refused to recommend any candidate for prime minister during its meeting with Herzog, effectively abandoning its long-time ally, Benjamin Netanyahu. This move has placed Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the 'Yashar' party, at the top of the list of recommended candidates with 56 supporters, including the eight members of the United Arab List (Ra'am). Conversely, Netanyahu's bloc has shrunk to 46 members. Israeli analyst Yoav Stern told Alhurra that while Eisenkot has the most recommendations, deep divisions within his camp—particularly regarding cooperation with Arab parties and the conscription of Haredi Jews—complicate coalition efforts. Under Israeli law, Herzog is tasked with selecting the legislator he believes has the best chance of successfully forming a government, not necessarily the one with the most seats. If both sides fail, Netanyahu could remain as caretaker prime minister for months.